In the glass
Aroma: blackberry, violet, liquorice, wild thyme, graphite
Palate: dark plum, cocoa, tar, pepper, firm tannin
The flagship red of Château de Lascaux. Syrah-led Pic Saint-Loup magnified through extended barrel ageing. Built for the cellar.
What it pairs with
-
Côte de boeuf à la cheminée
Firm tannins cut through marbled rib steak; charred crust echoes the wine's graphite and tar register. -
Wild boar daube
Game finds a peer in the wine's dark plum and cocoa depth; long finish persists through rich stew. -
Mature Roquefort
The wine's structure and graphite finish stand up to blue cheese's salt and funk. -
Slow-braised duck
Pepper and liquorice meet the duck's fat and connective tissue richness.
How to serve Les Nobles Pierres
Allow 90 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving for vintages under 8 years old; pour into a wide decanter to allow the firm tannins to integrate and the violet aromatics to emerge.
- Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature is the band. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder shuts down the graphite and liquorice depth.
- Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style or Burgundy-style bowl; the wider bowl rewards the wine's full-bodied structure.
- Pair with the food. Côte de boeuf à la cheminée, wild boar daube, or mature Roquefort. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Les Nobles Pierres is a Syrah-led Pic Saint-Loup cuvée at Chateau de Lascaux, ageing extended to reveal Syrah's deeper register. Named for the calcareous stones that mark the estate's plots.
- 1998 — First vintage of Les Nobles Pierres released
- 2017 — Pic Saint-Loup elevated to standalone cru AOC, separate from Languedoc
Facts
- Producer
- Château de Lascaux
- Grapes
- Syrah, Grenache
- Classification
- AOC Pic Saint-Loup
- Oak
- Aged 14-18 months in French oak barrels, with new oak proportion
- ABV
- 14.5%
- Price
- €25-35 at retail
- Drinking window
- 5-15 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1998
- Organic
- ECOCERT
- Vegan
- Yes (no animal-derived fining)
Frequently asked about Les Nobles Pierres
What does Les Nobles Pierres taste like?
Blackberry, violet, liquorice, wild thyme and graphite on the nose; dark plum, cocoa, tar, pepper and firm tannin on the palate. Full-bodied with a long finish.
When should I drink Les Nobles Pierres?
Drink between 5 and 15 years from vintage. Younger vintages benefit from 90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles need careful handling for sediment.
What food pairs with Les Nobles Pierres?
Côte de boeuf à la cheminée is the canonical match; wild boar daube and mature Roquefort are equally strong pairings.
What classification does Les Nobles Pierres have?
AOC Pic Saint-Loup, the cru-level appellation elevated to standalone status in 2017.