Laurus
Hermitage 2018

AOP Hermitage Red

Awards

91+ pts Jeb Dunnuck
16+/20 Jancis Robinson
15/20 Bettane & Desseauve

Tasting

« Classic scorched earth, burning embers, cassis, and peppery notes emerge from the 2018 Hermitage Laurus. This medium to full-bodied beauty has a rounded, elegant texture, present yet ripe tannins, and a great finish. There are certainly plenty of tannins here, but the balance is spot on.» Jeb Dunnuck (11/19/2020)

Food & wine pairings

Beef stew with juniper berries
Seven-hour cooked lamb with quince sauce

Detailed information

Vintage

2018 was atypical in many ways. This vintage required a constant presence from the vineyards to the cellar. After a mild Winter, the wet and rainy Spring gave way to a beautiful Summer, favoring a perfect growth cycle. September ushered in an Indian Summer that proved to be ideal for quality with cool nights and warm, sunny days. The grapes were harvested over 8 weeks at optimal maturity and under perfect weather conditons. The result is an elegant vintage with a particularly aromatic profile and a superbe balance.

Grape varieties

Syrah

Terroir

The grapes are sourced on the alluvial terraces in the eastern part of the Hermitage hill. The vines are located between 150 and 200 meters in altitude and benefit from a south / southwest orientation. They are lying on alluvial soils covered with small pebbles.

Winemaking

Grapes are manually harvested in the early morning to preserve all the aromatic potential and the freshness. 100% destemmed and fermented at controlled temperatures of 22°-24°C max for 24 days. The wine is then placed in 275-liter Laurus barrels before the malolactic fermentation (malic acid into the softer lactic acid) and aged on the fine lees for 15 months before bottling.

1 250 bottles, 65 magnums, 24 jeroboams produced.

Bottled on May 14, 2020

Vegan Wine.

Service

Serve at 13-15°C – Ideal when opened 2 hours prior to serving

Aging potential : 10 to 15 years

Degree of alcohol

15% vol.

Technical sheet HD label HD Packshot

Laurus

Laurus means ‘Laurel’ in Latin, a Roman symbol of excellence. Here excellence is all about “terroir”: the grapes are grown on parcels selected for their ability to express the very best of each Appellation.

The term “terroir” encompasses a soil, a climate and people. Here it is expressed through sustainable partnerships with wine-growers who share our vision. The perfect combination of grape variey & soil, the precise maturing process in unique 275l. French oak "Laurus" barrels refines the structure, producing complex wines, with plenty of character, beautiful elegance and a long ageing potential.