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

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

Three Ravaille brothers, Jean-Marc, Pierre, and Xavier, are as comfortable on Pic Saint-Loup as the three fish on the labels would be in water. They had to change the estate's historic name, l'Ermitage du Pic Saint-Loup, so as not to compete with the well-known Rhône appellation. The Sainte-Agnès red blends the four main Languedoc grape varieties, while the white is based on half Roussanne. The move towards biodynamics has been underway for several years. Sainte-Agnès regularly ranks as the archetype of Pic Saint-Loup reds.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the estate:

This benchmark estate (45 hectares), formerly known as Ermitage du Pic Saint-Loup, lies at the foot of the Pic Saint-Loup foothills. It is cultivated organically and biodynamically by the Ravaille brothers.

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

About wine:

A very well-managed vintage for Saint-Agnès, more floral and fresh than usual. Soft texture, elegant tannins, balanced fruit and texture—it's already a pleasure to drink. It has depth, but doesn't try to show off its strength, distinguishing itself with a more airy expression, 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 Château de Montferrand. The first winegrowers began cultivating these vineyards in the 12th century. This jewel of the appellation, directly backed by the Pic, is now run by the Ravaille family, who are responsible for introducing Syrah, now the dominant grape variety in the appellation. In 1992, the latest generation, Xavier, Pierre, and Jean-Marc, decided to leave the cooperative to vinify these beautiful high-altitude lands. High standards in the vineyard, precision in expression, and controlled power are the current characteristics of the estate's production, which is a benchmark in the appellation.