One land, one climat, men for great wines.
Poor, predominantly limestone soils and a unique climate due to the appellation’s northerly location create typicality in Pic Saint Loup wines. They display a characteristic deep colour, delicate fruit, wonderful freshness and refined, elegant tannins.
Some History
The Coteaux du Languedoc appellation was created in 1985.
It was the successful culmination of efforts by local wine growers to work collectively which began in 1955 with the creation of the Pic Saint Loup VDQS (Vin délimité de qualité supérieure) designation.
Pic Saint Loup is now one of the sub-areas within the regional Languedoc appellation and is aiming to become an appellation in its own right as part of a region-wide quality hierarchy.
Location
The Pic Saint Loup wine region is the most northerly part of the Languedoc appellation. It is located in the north-western tip of the Hérault department, 30 km from the Mediterranean sea and forms a north-south strip encompassing 13 villages.
The production area is set amongst the foothills of the Cevennes mountains and is bordered to the west by the limestone plateau of Orthus. The landform is an average 150 metres above sea level and is dominated by the Pic Saint Loup (658m) and the limestone ridge opposite, Orthus (512m).
Soils
The Pic Saint Loup area is divided into several soil types:
Clay-limestone, marl, dolomite rock, hard and soft limestone and limestone scree.
The rise in the sea level, a dramatic tectonic period and glacial and warming periods have shaped the landscape and soil make-up.
Some interesting facts…
190 million years ago, the Pic Saint Loup region was submerged by the sea which left behind deposits of limestone marl, dolomite rock and hard limestone.
At the end of the Cretaceous period, the sea receded (65 million years ago) and formed lakes in the depressions. New sediment was deposited there (marl, conglomerate, continental sandstone).
50 million years ago, a significant tectonic phase began, giving rise to the Pyrenees and thereby causing the formation of the Pic Saint Loup fold.
An extensive period of erosion ensued with the rise and subsequent retreat of the sea 10 million years ago which roughly shaped the current landform.
A period characterised by significant variations in climate occurred 1.65 million years ago: after an ice age, the ice melted and led to significant frost weathering producing the limestone fragments that formed pockets of limestone scree.
Climate
The climate here is Mediterranean – affected by two prevailing winds, the warm, hot maritime breeze and the dry, cold Tramontane – and is strongly influenced by the nearby Cevennes mountain range. Summers are hot with significant day/night temperature variations due to cold air flowing down from the limestone plateau of Orthus.
The nearby Cevennes mountain range is also one of the reasons for fairly heavy rainfall (900mm/year on average) which replenishes water supplies and keeps vine stress to a minimum during dry periods.
The vegetation is typically northern Mediterranean and suited to summer droughts. Holm oak, shrub oak, Aleppo pines, strawberry trees, thyme, rosemary, bay and juniper are commonly found.
Hallmark Features
The significant day/night temperature variations and relatively high rainfall during vine dormancy are hallmark features of the Pic Saint Loup appellation. They promote good anthocyanin (colour) synthesis during ripening and impart refined aromas and wonderful freshness in the wines.