In the glass
Aroma: blackberry, violet, leather, garrigue, graphite
Palate: black plum, dried herbs, tobacco, firm tannin
Mourvedre-Syrah from Hortus's two opposing terroirs at the foot of the limestone cliffs. The Orliac family's flagship cuvee at Domaine de l'Hortus since the early 1990s.
What it pairs with
-
Slow-braised lamb shoulder
Firm tannins cut the fat; garrigue and dried herb register echoes Provençal seasoning. -
Wild boar civet
Game's depth meets the wine's leather and tobacco core. -
Aged Roquefort
Blue cheese's funk and salt sit well against the wine's graphite finish. -
Côte de boeuf charcoal-grilled
Char and char-grilled fat meet the wine's structure and tobacco depth.
How to serve Domaine de l'Hortus Grande Cuvée Rouge
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 Mourvèdre's firm tannins to integrate.
- Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature is the band. Mourvèdre shuts down below 15 degrees; above 19 the alcohol pushes forward.
- Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style or Burgundy-style bowl; the wider bowl rewards Mourvèdre's full structure and leather aromatics.
- Pair with the food. Slow-braised lamb shoulder, wild boar civet, or aged Roquefort. The wine wants slow-cooked fat and savoury depth.
History
Jean Orliac's flagship Hortus red, sourced from two opposing-exposure parcels at the foot of the Hortus cliff: the cooler north-east Syrah and the warmer south-east Mourvèdre. The wine that elevated Pic Saint-Loup's reputation in the 1990s and 2000s.
- 1990 — First vintage of Domaine de l'Hortus flagship red
- 2017 — Pic Saint-Loup elevated to standalone cru AOC, separate from Languedoc
Facts
- Producer
- Domaine de l'Hortus
- Grapes
- Mourvèdre, Syrah
- Classification
- AOC Pic Saint-Loup
- Oak
- Aged 12-18 months in French oak barriques
- ABV
- 14.0%
- Price
- €25-35 at retail
- Drinking window
- 5-15 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1990
- Vegan
- Yes (no animal-derived fining)
Frequently asked about Domaine de l'Hortus Grande Cuvée Rouge
What does Domaine de l'Hortus Grande Cuvée Rouge taste like?
Blackberry, violet, leather, garrigue and graphite on the nose; black plum, dried herbs, tobacco and firm tannin on the palate. Full-bodied with a long finish.
When should I drink Domaine de l'Hortus Grande Cuvée Rouge?
Drink between 5 and 15 years from vintage. Younger bottles benefit from 90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles need careful handling.
What food pairs with Domaine de l'Hortus Grande Cuvée Rouge?
Slow-braised lamb shoulder is the canonical match; wild boar civet and aged Roquefort are equally strong pairings.
What grapes are in Domaine de l'Hortus Grande Cuvée Rouge?
A Mourvèdre-Syrah blend from two opposing-exposure parcels at the foot of the Hortus cliff. Both varietals lead, varying by vintage.