Domaine de l'Hortus

The Domaine de l'Hortus vineyard

François and Yves, the sons of Marie-Thérèse and Jean Orliac, now help run Domaine de l'Hortus, which comprises two vineyards: the Hortus vineyard, in the Combe de Fambétou, and Clos Prieur, at the foot of the Larzac plateau, where everything is very traditional. All these vineyards are grouped together under the name Vignoble Orliac to produce red, white and rosé wines from the 60 hectares of vines on the estate. The terroir is geologically complex. The soil is a mixture of cliff fragments from distant ice ages, and scree sloping down onto these limestone cliffs.

The special climate of Domaine de l'Hortus

The vines benefit from the mild Mediterranean sea breeze and the southerly wind, which brings mildness and humidity. The Cévennes mountain range on the other side brings cool, dry air, carried by the north wind.

The grape varieties grown at Domaine de l'Hortus

The vines share the south-facing Combe de Fambétou and the north face of the Pic Saint Loup. The red grape varieties are Syrah, Mourvèdre and Grenache. White grape varieties include Roussanne, Viognier, Sauvignon Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Muscat and Bourboulenc.

The wines of Domaine de l'Hortus

Domaine de l'Hortus "Grande Cuvée" red

Domaine de l'Hortus "Grande Cuvée" red is an AOC Pic Saint Loup appellation. It is composed of Mourvèdre, Grenache and Syrah grapes. The wine is very homogeneous, with berries that offer an excellent balance between tannin quality, acidity and aromas.

Domaine de l'Hortus "Grande Cuvée" white

Domaine de l'Hortus "Grande Cuvée" white is an IGP Val de Montferrand appellation. It is a blend of Petit Manseng, Sauvignon Gris, Viognier and Chardonnay grapes, grown in particular on the valley bottom plots at the foot of the Pic Saint Loup and Hortus slopes. This is a very fresh, yet complex wine. It is particularly long on the palate, with an intense finish.

Bergerie de l'Hortus rouge

Bergerie de l'Hortus rouge is a blend of Domaine de l'Hortus wines, with the addition of wines from friendly winemakers, all from the Pic Saint Loup AOC. The wines come from parcels located at the foot of the slopes, with less pronounced exposure than the mid-slope parcels. This astonishing mix produces highly original wines, different from one year to the next.

Le Dit de l'Hortus "La Soulane" rouge

This wine comes from a special parcel called La Soulane, facing due south in the middle of the slope beneath the Hortus cliffs. The warmth brings powerful ripeness and a perfect balance between acidity and tannins.