June's Wine of the Month - Le Loup dans la Bergerie L’Hortus
2024 Le Loup dans la Bergerie L’Hortus, Vin De France Rose $12.99
“Hey Randy, when was the last time we did a Rose for Wine of the Month?” I was after tasting the new vintage of Le Loup dans la Bergerie L’Hortus Rose, with all its summer vibes exploding from the glass. Randy gave his head a little scratch and thought for a bit, “It’s been a really long time” he responded. Stood there sort of gob-smacked. How could this be?! We’ve been, without question, the leading retailer in California for Rosé for nearly 30 years - and I didn’t highlight a Rosé for summer for so long we couldn’t even remember? Well, that needed rectification, and I still had a puddle of that Rosé in my glass that was clearly so good - especially for the money - that the first thing that came to mind was Wine of the Month. Staff all tasted a bottle and were in agreement, this injustice of neglect was coming to and end here and now.
Pic Saint Loup in Spring, courtesy Studio les 2 Prairies
I remember the first time I tasted the wines from Domaine L’Hortus. I was on my first trip to France; 25 days, covering most of the country. I was so green as to how much there was to learn, away from my son for the first time, with people that had been doing this wine thing decades longer than I had - I felt a touch overwhelmed. When we made our way to the Languedoc, the sun heavy in the early afternoon sky, I looked up and saw the cliff of Pic Saint Loup and all the lush greenery around it. I felt like we were in the mountains back home, and settled a little more in my seat.
Jean Orliac, a teacher by trade but avid climber had visited the Pic Saint Loup to climb and instantly felt a vision, a connection to that spot. That was in 1970 and sadly the Orliac family couldn’t immediately afford to make the wine they envisioned, they had to take their time. It was in 1990 that they released their first wine. When I met them, they reminded me of a couple you would meet in Berkely. They made us gorgeous, much needed salads and platters of cured meat as they poured us their wines. I’ve never forgotten that day, nor the wines of this humble but overachieving estate.
The 2024 Le Loup dans la Bergerie L’Hortus, Vin De France Rosé is a second Rose for the estate, bottled under twist cap with a playful label and wearing a Vin De France appellation as some of the fruit for this wine comes from outside the region. A blend of Grenache and Syrah grown in limestone and clay soils, there is a freshness and easy-going charm to this Rose. Slightly darker pink than the Rosés from Provence, nearly bouncy with bright berry fruit and just a touch of dried herbs and citrus. A perfect wine to drink all summer long for the pure and uncomplicated joy of it. Sounds like something we can all use more of and at this price, we can have plenty on hand for every - or no - occasion.