Lirac L'Anglore 2018

Lot presentation

Lirac L'Anglore 2018

The wine

A blend of three grape varieties (Grenache, Mourvèdre and Clairette) grown on the limestone soils of the Lauzes hills, the profile of this wine is at once frank and indulgent. Its intense fruit and stunning freshness for a wine from this appellation result in a highly sought-after wine. Eric Pfifferling harvests the grapes by hand in small wooden baskets before macerating the whole bunches for two weeks. The wine is then matured for 18 months in demi-muids.

Currently one of the most coveted estates among highly discerning wine lovers, L’Anglore is based in Tavel, an appellation renowned for its unique focus on rosé wines. The ten-hectare estate is run by Eric Pfifferling. A former beekeeper, Pfifferling turned to wine after seeing his bees die from the insecticides being sprayed in the region. He initially delivered his grapes to the local cooperative until someone gave him a taste of his wine. It was a revelation. He immediately left the cooperative and founded his estate in the early 2000s. From the outset, he chose certified organic and biodynamic farming, foregoing chemical treatments.
The predominantly limestone-clay vineyards are farmed with a focus on soil health and maintaining the natural balance between the vines and surrounding vegetation. Yields are low, yet the estate produces beautifully balanced rosé wines, some of which are even considered the best in the world. Grape varieties planted include Grenache, Cinsault, Clairette, Carignan and Mourvèdre.
The grapes are fermented as whole bunches with native yeasts, using carbonic maceration. This technique, associated with Beaujolais, preserves as much of the fruit character as possible. The wines are not filtered.
The wines are defined by finesse and generosity, with an emphasis on pure fruit and freshness despite their distinctly southern character. Their remarkable drinkability has even earned them the occasional nickname ‘Beaujolais of the South’.
Since 2017, Eric and Marie’s sons, Joris and Thibault, have joined the estate.