Ermitage du Pic Saint Loup - Cuvée Sainte-Agnès rouge 2020

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

The three Ravaille brothers—Jean-Marc, Pierre, and Xavier—are as much at home on Pic Saint-Loup as the three fish depicted on the labels would be in water. They had to change the estate’s historic name, *L’Ermitage du Pic Saint-Loup*, to avoid competing with the well-known Rhône appellation. The red wine, Sainte-Agnès, blends the four main Languedoc grape varieties, while the white is half Roussanne. The transition to biodynamic farming has been underway for several years. Sainte-Agnès is consistently regarded as the archetype of Pic Saint-Loup reds.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the estate:

This renowned estate (45 ha), formerly known as Ermitage du Pic Saint-Loup, is nestled against the foothills of Pic Saint-Loup. It is cultivated using organic and biodynamic methods by the Ravaille brothers.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the wine:

A very well-crafted vintage for Saint-Agnès, more floral and fresh than usual. With a soft mouthfeel, elegant tannins, and a perfect balance of fruit and texture, it’s already a delight to drink. It has depth, but doesn’t try to show off its strength; instead, it stands out for its lighter, more airy character, marked by its high-altitude terroir.

About the estate:

L'Héritage du Pic-Saint-Loup is a historic terroir, located on the grounds of the former convent of the Château de Montferrand. It was in the 12th century that the first winegrowers tended and cultivated these vineyards. This jewel of the appellation, nestled directly against the Pic, is now run by the Ravaille family, who are notably credited with introducing Syrah—a variety that is now dominant in the appellation. The latest generation—Xavier, Pierre, and Jean-Marc—decided in 1992 to leave the cooperative to produce wine from these beautiful high-altitude vineyards. Rigorous standards in the vineyard, precision in expression, and controlled power are the hallmarks of the estate’s current production, which serves as a benchmark within the appellation.