Domaine de l'Hortus - Bergerie de l'Hortus 2020

The first domaine de l’Hortus vintage sees the light of day in 1990. In the 70s, Jean and Marie-Thérèse Orliac settle in the Fambétou combe, in the middle of a rocky amphitheatre where Pic Saint-Loup and Hortus Mountain surround the estate. During 20 years, the couple cleared and planted 4 hectares of vineyard while building the cellar and winery. The wines have been very well received and have contributed to the appellation booming, of which they might even be considered the driving force. Today, the estate is managed with sustainable viticulture with more than 80 hectares and with yields between 30 and 40 hL/ha but is also working wines from the neighbouring wineries.

The estate’s location provides a very particular terroir and climate. The two mountains create a corridor where a wind named “Marin” coming from the South brings a lot of freshness to the vines. The mountain's erosion is the origin of the terroir mainly made of limestone scree all across the vineyard. The pluviometry is high most of the time, which favours the syrah, while summer droughts support the mourvèdre late-cycle. The bottom of the valley benefits the white grape varieties growing on an alluvial deposit of white clay.