Festive Friday -Sparkling wine tasting

Jun 28, 2024

6 pm - 8 pm

.Blanquette de Limoux is considered to be the first sparkling white wine produced in France, created long before the Champagne region became world-renowned for the sparkling wine Champagne. The first textual mention of "blanquette", from the Occitan expression for "the small white", appeared in 1531 in papers written by Benedictine monks at an abbey in Saint-Hilaire. They detail the production and distribution of Saint-Hilaire's blanquette in cork-stoppered flasks. The region's location, north of the cork oak forest of Catalunya, gave Limoux producers easy access to the material needed to produce secondary fermentation in the flask, which produces the bubbles necessary for sparkling wine.

Antech Brut Nature, Blanquette de Limoux

Antech's Brut Nature is produced with no added dosage, which translates to a super clean and crisp glass of bubbly. It is composed of 90% Mauzac, 5% Chenin Blanc, and 5% Chardonnay. All harvesting is done by hand. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel, and the wine undergoes a 12-month elevage on the lees, à la méthode traditionnelle, before being disgorged.

St. Hilaire, Blanquette de Limoux

First brought to America by Thomas Jefferson himself, the monks at Saint-Hilaire have been making Mauzac-based sparkling wines since 1531. Delicious and fairly dry with a lighter body and leaning heavily into citrus, apple and pear profiles, this Limoux sparkling wine carries yeasty aromas and creamy textures all the way through the refined finish.

Antech Brut Tradition, Blanquette de Limoux

This stunning Limoux Tradition is composed of Mauzac, Chardonnay, and Chenin Blanc. Following the harvest the wine is fermented and then undergoes a second fermentation in the bottle just like its more famous cousins, the sparkling wines of the Champagne region. After resting for 15 months with the lees the wine is finally deemed ready for release. This complex process produces a wonderfully fresh bubbly which bears the distinctive rich and well-rounded character of the Mauzac grape.

Antech Brut Heritage, Cremant de Limoux

This Chardonnay is made with a touch of Pinot Noir in the blend to add body. It's produced by the traditional Champagne method, with 30 months in bottle before disgorgement, and is a straightforward sparkler, with fresh, crisp green appley fruit.

St. Hilaire Rose, Cremant de Limoux

The nose presents a nice vinosity and a beautiful aromatic richness with notes of red fruits (strawberry, raspberry). This aromas evolve towards toasted and brioche giving harmony to the bouquet. The freshness of the palate is the result of the refined effervescence and the beautiful acidity. Ends with a lingering and refreshing finish. 70 % Chardonnay 20 % Chenin Blanc 10 % Pinot Noir

Insider’s tip

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