Showing posts with label mauzac. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mauzac. Show all posts

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  • Date publishedSaturday, October 7, 2023

Altugnac Terres Amoureuses 2021 (Limoux) - Wine Review



white wine review is a lovely Chardonnay (with a splash of Mauzac) from the Limoux appellation in Languedoc that arrived at the LCBO last month as part of the recent LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection on .

It is produced by Domaine Altugnac, one of two wine estates owned by Collovray et Terrier - two winegrowing families situated in Burgundy and Languedoc. Christian Collovray and Jean-Luc Terrier had been friends since childhood and shared a love for the vines and wine. Their bond grew even closer when they married two sisters, Brigitte and Florence, who also came from a family of winegrowers. Together, the four of them dreamt of creating an estate to make wine from Christian's and his father's vines - a dream that became a reality in 1986.

The story of Domaine Altugnac begins in 1997, when the Collovray & Terrier families arrived in Languedoc with a desire to explore new horizons and take on new challenges. Coming from Burgundy, the quality of the white wines in Languedoc appealed to them, especially those from high in the Aude Valley where mostly Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are planted on limestone soils. Harvest dates were within a few days compared to those back in Davayé (Burgundy), while the vegetative cycles were also very similar.

Altugnac is located on the western edge of Languedoc, in the Pyrenean foothills, where the vines flirt with the scrub land and the woods. It is at the crossroads of the Atlantic and Mediterranean winds and experiences sunny days and cool nights. The village of Altugnac is peaceful, dominated by an amphitheatre of mountains, and surrounded by breathtaking landscapes - all an invitation to imagine and create unique wines.

Prior to the arrival of Collovray & Terrier, the domaine was owned by Mr. Ramirez. He was one of the founding members of the association of private cellars, and one of the first to imagine Chardonnay in the Aude Valley. After taking over the domaine, Collovray & Terrier undertook the colossal project to revitalize the 45 hectares of vineyards and rebuild the facilities.

Today, as a family business, six members of the Collovray & Terrier family work within the company, with a strong sense of cohesion, and with the support of a close-knit, loyal, and dedicated team. With roots in agriculture, their philosophy begins in the vineyard by working the soil and respecting the vegetation - prerequisites for healthy, ripe, and high-quality grapes. The objective is perfection, by which they strive to master each step of the winemaking process from vineyard to bottle. They also adapt to the year's weather conditions and evolve and experiment. The goal is to reveal the diversity of their terroirs, while also protecting and developing biodiversity.

This white wine is named "Terrres Amoureuses", which translates to "Lands of Love", and is crafted mainly with Chardonnay that was grown among 30 hectares of vines that were planted in the early 1970s and are some of the oldest in Languedoc. Grown in the Aude Valley at 400 metres above sea level, the terroir consists of clay and limestone soils that are covered with a gravelly surface layer composed of black earth rich in schist debris, which is typical of the area and unique to Antugnac. At this altitude, the vines have a south/south-easterly aspect while facing the Pyrenees, while also having great exposure to the sun, winds, and a micro-climate that favours a slow and long maturation period. Overall, the valley has a Mediterranean climate with mountain influences, and experiences dramatic diurnal temperatures between days and nights.

To craft this white wine, which is mainly Chardonnay and a small amount of Mauzuc, the grapes were harvested manually and delicately loaded into the press by gravity. The grapes are slowly pressed and decanted into stainless steel tanks. After settling, the juice is transferred by gravity into barrels to undergo alcoholic and malolactic fermentation. The wine remains in barrels, with only 20% new, and is aged on fine lees for a further 10 to 12 months. The wines are then assembled with their lees and undergo further ageing in stainless steel vats prior to bottling the following spring. Let's see how this 2021 white wine from Limoux is tasting tonight...

Altugnac Terres Amoureuses 2021 (91 pts)

Tasting Note:

ALTUGNAC TERRES AMOUREUSES 2021 - AP Limoux, Languedoc, France (#16413) (XD) - $26.95
Primarily Chardonnay with a splash of Mauzac, this barrel-fermented white wine has a fresh, medium-high intensity nose that offers attractive and ripe stone fruit, pear, quince, apple, and citrus aromas which mingle with mealy and earthy mineral notes. On the medium-full bodied palate it is dry and ripe with apple, quince, pear, and lemon citrus flavours joined by lovely mealy and mineral notes, plus touches of vanilla and a twist of honey adding further complexity. Elegant, structured, and finely textured with fresh, juicy acidity, while mealy, mineral, stone fruit, and citrus notes with a touch of spice linger on long, flavourful finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91 pts

Other lovely wines by Altugnac and Collovray et Terrier can be ordered through their Agent - Profile Wine Group.


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  • Date publishedSunday, August 7, 2022

Antech Cuvée Eugénie Brut Crémant de Limoux 2018 (Languedoc) - Wine Review

wine review is a lovely sparkling wine from Limoux, a region widely considered the birthplace of traditional method sparkling wine with the first bubbly's produced in the year 1544. This Limoux sparkling wine is a new arrival to the LCBO and should be in stores across the province by next weekend as part of the LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Antech Limoux, a winery that was founded in the late 19th century by Zélie and Jules upon their family's long history of passion for wine. Early in the 20th century, the estate was run by Eugénie Limouzy, a dynamic, courageous, and modern woman who lived through wars unbowed to ensure the winery's long-term survival. In 1930, Eugénie's niece, Marguerite, married fellow vintner Edmond Antech. It was a match made in heaven as two winemaking families merged and gave birth to the Antech name.

In 1965, their sons Georges and Roger were inseparable as they took the reins of the estate at a very early age and in the 1970s decided to produce only sparkling wines. In 1996, the 6th generation of the family joined the estate as Georges' daughter, Françoise, arrived and carried on the family tradition to raise Antech to the ranks of the greatest sparkling wine makers.

Today, Antech (pronounced "An-tesh") is one of only 24 producers in Limoux and is by far the region's most celebrated. They are known for producing sparkling wines with purity and elegance by harnessing the three terroirs of Limoux - freshness from the Pyrenees, vinousness from the ocean, and roundness from the Mediterranean. The estate was originally planted to 120 acres of vines six generations ago, while adding another 24 acres since then. The family vineyard sits on the appellation's highest land nearly 400 metres above sea level on stony, south-facing hillsides. For over 90 years, Antech has also purchased fruit from several friends who have plots on the top of the mountain that sits north of them, grapes which are grown at high altitudes and add freshness to the wines.

Women have been the driving force at Antech for the last three generations. Today, Antech is led by winemaker Francoise Antech, one of France's more vocal and gregarious female winemakers. Antech is committed to integrated winemaking and implements the Terra Vitis approach for integrated, sustainable viticulture, a certification they obtained in 2013.

This cuvée pays homage to Eugénie Limouzy, a pioneering woman winemaker in Limoux and great aunt of Francoise Antech. Eugénie ran the Antech estate after her brother and his fiancé were killed in WWI, and lived with Francoise until she passed away at 96 years old. This Crémant de Limoux sparkling wine is crafted with 70% Chardonnay, 20% Chenin Blanc, and 10% Mauzac. Chardonnay adds body to the wine, while Chenin adds acidity and freshness, and Mauzac keeps the wine rooted in Limoux and contributes creaminess to the textured finish. All of the grapes were handpicked in the morning, cooled, and directly pressed and fermented separately in stainless steel. After lot selection, wines were blended and second fermentation occurred in bottle for 18 months in temperature controlled cellars. Let's see how this 2018 Crémant de Limoux is tasting tonight...

Antech Cuvée Eugénie Brut Crémant de Limoux 2018 (91 pts)

Tasting Note:

ANTECH CUVÉE EUGÉNIE BRUT CRÉMANT DE LIMOUX 2018 - Traditional Method, Sustainable, AP, Languedoc, France (#25367) (XD) - $23.95
This blend of 70% Chardonnay, 20% Chenin Blanc, and 10% Mauzac has a fresh, elegant nose of medium-high intensity that offers aromas of white flowers, bread, toasty, and citrus with a sense of minerality. The soft, medium+ bodied palate has a kiss of sweetness on the flavour profile with notes of ripe peach, white flowers, citrus, honey, and toast with mineral undertones. Soft and mildly structured with fine acidity and elegant bubbles. Well-balanced, while finishing crisp, dry, and long with lovely peach, citrus, white floral, and mineral notes. Elegant bubbly and a highly recommended buy! Score: 91 pts

Other lovely wines by Antech can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.


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  • Date publishedFriday, April 22, 2022

J. Laurens Le Moulin Brut Blanquette de Limoux (Midi) - Wine Review (Apr. 2022)

I've enjoyed this lovely Limoux sparkling wine on a couple of occasions now, including most recently in May 2021 when it showed up in VINTAGES that month. For sparkling wine review, I bring you the latest batch of this delicious sparkling wine that arrived at the LCBO last weekend as part of the LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Limoux wine is produced around the city of Limoux in Languedoc, in southwestern France, with sparkling wines dominating the production. The main grape of the region is Mauzac, known locally as Blanquette because of a fine white coating that forms on its leaves, followed by Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc. Historically, it is widely believed that the world's first sparkling wines were produced in the region of Limoux in 1531 by the monks of the abbey in Saint-Hilaire. Fast forward to 1929 and the Limoux production area was the first delimited area in France, followed by the first Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) in Languedoc (and one of the very first in France) in 1938.

This Limoux sparkling wine is produced by Domaine J. Laurens. Established in the 1980s by Michel Dervin of Champagne, J. Laurens is located in the south of France in the small village of La Digne d'Aval, 5 kilometres from Limoux, a stone’s throw away from the famous old city of Carcassonne, one hour from Toulouse, and two hours from Montpellier. A native of Limoux, Jacques Calvel took over the domaine in 2002 and with the help of Michel and cellar master Henri Albrus, the domaine was expanded and modernized in order to guarantee high quality wines every year.

Today, J. Laurens produces a fine range of AOC Limoux sparkling wines in the traditional method. Among the many rules of the AOC, yields are limited to 50 hl/hectare, hand-harvested and uncrushed grapes only, and the wines must rest on their lees for a minimum of 9 months. J. Laurens is aware of the importance of protecting the environment and respecting biological diversity, and applies the principles of sustainable agriculture with the help of a qualified technician.

J. Laurens Le Moulin Brut Blanquette de Limoux (89 pts)

Tasting Note:

J. LAURENS LE MOULIN BRUT BLANQUETTE DE LIMOUX - Traditional method, AP, Midi, France (#180323) (XD) - $19.95
This non-vintage traditional method sparkling wine is a blend of 90% Mauzac and 10% Chardonnay and has fresh golden apple and lemon citrus aromas mingling with yeasty and biscuit notes of generous intensity rising out of the glass. On the crisp, light-to-mid weighted palate it has lightly frothy mousse and more ripe apple, lemon citrus, and yeasty notes joined by lightly honeyed and grapefruit flavours in a dry profile with fresh, zesty acidity. Citrus, apple, and yeasty notes linger on the dry, clean, and crisp finish, with very good length. Lot L21344.1. Always a recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Other fine wines by J. Laurens can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.


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  • Date publishedFriday, May 14, 2021

J. Laurens Le Moulin Brut Blanquette de Limoux (Midi) - Wine Review (May 2021)

wine review is a very nice sparkling wine that I last enjoyed four years ago and am delighted to see return to the LCBO this weekend. It is featured as part of the theme on fresh French sippers in the LCBO VINTAGES Release.

The story of Domaine J. Laurens begins in the 1980s, when Michel Dervin of Champagne decided to settle in the village of La Digne d'Aval in the south of France, less than 5 kilometres from Limoux. He purchased a few hectares of vines so he could produce the famous Blanquette de Limoux sparkling wine. In 2002, Jacques Calvel took over the domaine, and with the help of Michel and cellar master Henri Albrus, Jacques expanded and modernized the cellar to improve the consistency and quality of the wines. Today, Domaine J. Laurens produces a fine range of quality AOC sparkling wines while respecting the environment and preferring the use of sustainable agricultural techniques.

The climate in Limoux is a well balanced mixture of Mediterranean and Atlantic influences with hot, sunny days, followed by cool nights. These conditions help create a perfect acid-sugar balance - a fundamental element in the taste of sparkling wines. This particular sparkling wine is a blend of 90% Mauzac and 10% Chardonnay. The Mauzac varietal is planted on granular, clay-limestone slopes which are less fertile, but have regular rainfall, while the Chardonnay is planted in deep, fertile, well-drained soils. Let's see how the latest edition of this Blanquette de Limoux is tasting tonight...

J. Laurens Le Moulin Brut Blanquette de Limoux (89 pts)

Tasting Note:

J. LAURENS LE MOULIN BRUT BLANQUETTE DE LIMOUX - Traditional method, AP, Midi, France (#180323) (XD) - $19.95
A blend of 90% Mauzac and 10% Chardonnay that was hand-harvested and aged for at least 9 months prior to disgorgement. The medium+ intensity nose offers elegant aromas of ripe apple and pear. citrus, honeyed floral, and biscuity notes. It's medium-full bodied on the weighty, slightly creamy palate with crisp, vibrant acidity and dry flavours of lemon citrus, apple, biscuit, and yeast. It's finely balanced overall with lemon, yeasty, and touches of oyster shell mineral notes on the finish, with very good length. Lot L20363-3. Great buy! Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines from Domaine J. Laurens can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.


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  • Date publishedMonday, February 13, 2017

Domaine J. Laurens Le Moulin Brut Blanquette de Limoux (France) - Wine Review

I opened up this lovely sparkling wine evening in conjunction with wedding anniversary celebrations.

It is produced by Domaine J. Laurens, located in the small village of La Digne d'Aval in the south of France, less than 5 kms from Limoux. The primary grape within Limoux is Mauzac, and the region is considered to be the first to produce sparkling white wines, even before Champagne, with historical texts dating back nearly 500 years. The story goes like this: Blanquette de Limoux was created in 1531 in the cellars of Benedictine Saint Hilaire Abbey when a monk discovered that the wine he had bottled and carefully corked formed bubbles, after a second fermentation, thereby producing the world's first sparkling wine.

The climate in this area where the domain is located is a mix of Mediterranean and Atlantic influences with hot and sunny days, followed by cool nights. These are the ideal conditions in which to have perfect acid-sugar balance - a fundamental element in the taste of sparkling wines.

This delicious Limoux sparkling wine will be available in LCBO VINTAGES on .

Domaine J. Laurens Le Moulin Brut Blanquette de Limoux (89 pts)

Tasting Note:

DOMAINE J. LAURENS LE MOULIN BRUT BLANQUETTE DE LIMOUX - Traditional method, AC, France (#180323) (XD) - $19.95
Blend of 90% Mauzac and 10% Chardonnay. Faint citrus and floral aromas from the cork. Yeasty aromas of green apple, pear, citrus, and delicate floral with a biscuity, leesy, yeasty character on the nose that continues on the fruity palate. It has nice, crunchy acids that balances the sweetness. Energetic bubbles. Finishes dry with bitter notes and very good length. Ideal as an apertif. Score: 89 pts


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