Languedoc – Pic Saint-Loup in the Spotlight
05 Dec 2024- Details
- Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy
(MAY 3, 2023) … PIC SAINT-LOUP
This morning I sat in at on the Masterclass about Pic Saint Loup – here are some of the highlights. 
One of the finest Vin de Garde regions of Languedoc. The Legend of the name: there are three knights, named Loup / Guiral and Clair, are in love with the same woman, the woman dies. They decide to live in silence on different Mountain tops in the area – they light fires every year to commemorate the woman they loved. The last one left, survivor, to light a fire was "Loup".
Pic Saint-Loup is the most northerly of the regions: 658m above sea level at its highest peak – it has rugged terrain and plantings are at about 150-300m. And it was the last of the Languedoc sub-apps to receive its AOP status (2017).
The region encompasses 1400 hectares (approx), with 75 independent “domaines”, 3 co-ops, and the region breaks down its wine production into: 90% Red / 10% Rosé … it is also one of the wettest regions of Languedoc (1000mm / year); but with a relatively dry growing season (~150mm). The soils are dominated by limestone.
Syrah makes up at least 50%; with both Grenache and Mourvedre playing integral parts; blends must be a minimum of two of these grapes. Secondary grapes include: Carignan, Cinsault, Cournoise, Morristel – capped at 10% of a blend; minimum ageing is 9 months (many go much longer).
Rosés are made up of at least 30% Syrah and 2 of the main grapes; Grenache Gris is also allowed.
One thing that makes the region so desirable for winemaking is its great diurnal temperature variation.
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These are my honest, no-nonsense thoughts about the wines I tasted from the Languedoc’s various sub-regions presented on that day.
First, I provide my take on the region, based on all the wines I tried ... then I score the wines I liked on a scale of Good, Better, Best (then I list them alphabetically).
Chateau De Cazeneuve 2021 Les Calcaires ... Good
Château Fontanès 2019 Sereen ... Better
Château La Roque 2020 La Cupa ... Better
Château La Roque 2021 Château La Roque ... Good
Chateau Lancyre 2019 Grande Cuvée Rouge ... Good
Château L'euzière 2021 Almandin ... Good
Chemin Des Rêves 2021 Gueule De Loup ... Good
Domaine Cammaous Et Caussarelle 2019 Roubioire ... Better 
Domaine Cammaous Et Caussarelle 2020 Cent Seize ... Good
Domaine De L'hortus 2020 Domaine De L'hortus "Grande Cuvée" ... Good
Domaine De L'hortus 2021 Bergerie De L'hortus ... Good
Domaine La Fournaca 2021 Le Baiser De La Vigne ... Good
Domaine Les Grandes Costes 2019 Les Grandes Costes ... Good
Domaine Mirabel 2021 Les Éclats ... Good
Domaine Uma 2020 Domaine Uma ... Better
Gaec Heritage Du Pic Saint Loup 2021 Sainte Agnes ... Better
Hommes Et Terres Du Sud 2021 La Cordée ... Good
La Gravette 2020 Gravettissime ... Good
La Gravette 2020 L'intégrale ... Good
La Gravette 2021 Rocastel ... Better
La Gravette 2022 A L'etat Pur ... Good
Puech Haut 2019 Lavabre ... Better
Vignobles Des 3 Châteaux 2019 Les Déesses Muettes Obsession ... Good
Vignobles Des 3 Châteaux 2020 La Célébration ... Good
Vignobles Des 3 Châteaux 2020 La Diablesse ... Good
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MASTERCLASS WINES … “Pic Saint-Loup – a wine for ageing”
La Bergerie du Capucin 2011 Larmanella:
Not thrilling: dark, pruney, with some VA … pluses: peppery and toasty
Chateau Lancyre 2010 Vieilles Vignes:
Still alive: good dried fruit extract with notes of licorice and good length; savoury notes with tobacco and cedar.
Chateau de Cazeneuve 2010 Le Sang du Calvaire:
80% Mourvedre; licorice, smoky, floral firm center, comes across very young in its flavour profile.
Chateau de Lascaux 2009 Les Secrets: 
wow-wine … lively, elegant, delicate yet still fresh and punchy. Subtle dried fruit leather, with a punch of acid/tannin on the finish.
Heritage du Pic Saint Loup 2006 Sainte Agnes:
An education in bottle variation: 1) harsh with VA and coffee bean. 2) fresher, lighter, elegant dried fruit, quite drinkable and dry.
Chateau Guilhem 2020 Grand Vin 
