Winemaker Notes
Hand harvested in small cases. 30 day cuvaison with gentle punching down and pumping over. Aged in concrete vats followed by one year old 400L barrels.A nose of ripe red berry fruit tinged with fragrant wild herbs leads into a very poised wine of medium dark color and solid concentration. Ripe, sweet tannins provide grip and sustenance to this very pure, fruit driven palate. Just a hint of oak notes season this fine effort that drinks well now, but will age gracefully for 5-10 years.This property, located in the spectacular village of St Jean de Buèges, was purchased several years back by Marie Orliac, who lives in this village. Marie, along with running the office at Domaine de l’Hortus, is in charge of the wine-making and day to day operations. This is a labor of love for Marie and she clearly delights in the process.
Blend: 70% Syrah, 25% Grenache, 5% Cinsault
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
Created in 2014 to showcase the unique quality of its wines, Terrasses du Larzac actually has a wine heritage over a millennium old. This red-only appellation is defined by its place at the base of the Larzac plateau northeast of Montpellier in the Languedoc. A wide range of soils—limestone, scree, sand, iron-rich clay—and one of the widest diurnal temperature variations in the world allow even berry ripening and fabulous complexity in the wines.
Terrasses du Larzac wines must be composed of at least three grapes, and may include Grenache, Syrah, Mourvédre, Cinsault and Carignan. Known for their intensity and concentration of dark berry fruit, influenced by the thyme, lavender and other herbs of the garrigue, the region’s basic reds make for succulent, food-friendly bistro wines. The best of Terrasses du Larzac (Montpeyroux, Aniane, and Mont Baudile are particularly noteworthy sites) will improve for decades, and are among the hidden gems of the wine world.