Château de Lancyre "Coste d'Aleyrac" 2020 — Pic Saint Loup AOC 750ml 14.5%

Château de Lancyre sits on a hilltop estate in Valflaunès, with parts of the château dating to the 12th century. The Durand family took it over as a working farm in 1870; by 1970, Bernard Durand, his brother René, and brother-in-law Bernard Valentin expanded the estate and were among the local growers who founded the Pic Saint Loup appellation itself. Régis Valentin, a newly graduated winemaker at the time, took over in 1995 and has run it since. The estate farms 75-80 hectares in the foothills of the Cévennes — predominantly limestone soils, Mediterranean climate with real rainfall, in Pic Saint Loup, the northernmost and coolest sub-zone of the Languedoc.

This Wine
Blend of roughly 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache, 10% Carignan. The 2020 vintage is described as softer, lusher, and more generous than the vintages around it — loaded with blackberry and black cherry fruit, heavy Syrah character on the nose and palate, spicy red fruit and light black pepper notes. Full, rich, velvety, and long on the finish. The Wine Advocate has rated it a perennial 90+ across vintages.

Food Pairings
Classic Mediterranean/Provençal fare: ratatouille, cassoulet, stuffed tomatoes, and soft cheeses. Also good with grilled lamb or anything with herbes de Provence.

Certifications
Château de Lancyre has been certified organic since 2022 and holds HVE (Haute Valeur Environnementale) Level 3 — France's highest environmental certification tier for farming practices.