Antech Cuvée Françoise Brut Blanquette de Limoux 2023 (Languedoc) - Wine Review

Tonight's sparkling wine review is a lovely vintage bubbly crafted in the traditional method with 100% Mauzac from Limoux (Languedoc) that arrived at the LCBO in the recent May 23 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

Cuvée Françoise is a range of premium wines crafted by Famille Antech. The brand is named in honour of its creator, Françoise Antech-Gazeau, the sixth generation of a family of winemakers in Limoux. Françoise was born and raised in Limoux, in the South of France, and pursued higher education in Paris. She combined her business degree with a passion for "French-style" know-how and taste for international affairs and found employment at L'Oréal.

However, after a decade at this large company, Françoise desired to return to her roots and in 1995 she returned to Limoux to join her father, Georges, and her uncle, Roger, and put her energy and enthusiasm into a project that was dear to her.

With the Cuvée Françoise range there is a constant quest for excellence based on an approach of Learning, Leading, and Sharing. With great respect for the prior generations, Françoise spent her early years learning from her father and uncle, while also discovering and listening. As a leader in Limoux with many vintages in which Françoise was able to understand the history and terroir, Françoise affirmed her ambitions since the beginning of the century and laid the foundations for sustainable viticulture and ambitious winemaking to finally recognize the potential of Limoux sparkling wines. Françoise shares her know-how with family members who joined the team, including her son, Baptiste, who joined the project in 2020.

The style of Cuvée Françoise wines has evolved over the years, always seeking more freshness and precision, while long ageing on lees allows for magnification of minimalist, but very demanding, cellar work. As Françoise is in love with the terroir of Limoux, she has always been a fervent ambassador of this unique place that produces fantastic sparkling wines.

This sparkling wine is crafted with the indigenous Mauzac varietal gown in the Limoux wine region of Languedoc. Some parcels of Mauzac benefitted from the seaside Mediterranean climate, while others were located in the foothills of the cooler Pyrenees mountains. The vineyards were planted on limestone soil, cultivated according to Certified TERRA VITIS standards, and are in conversion to organic farming. The higher altitude vineyards in the Pyrenees were dry farmed. With a firm commitment to sustainability, this wine is bottled in a lightweight bottle that is 15% lighter than average, and is also made from 90% recycled glass. Furthermore, the bio-sourced label is made of natural cotton.

To craft this sparkling wine, the grapes were hand-harvested, then pressed using direct slow and low pressure. It underwent secondary fermentation in bottle and was aged on its lees for an average of 30 months, followed by light dosage of 6 g/L and a proportion of reserve wines.

In 2023, the growing season in the Western Languedoc region of Limoux was a low-yielding vintage as drought conditions impacted yields, the loss of some vines and, in some instances, entire vineyards. The heat spikes in August and September also caused sunburn and vine shutdown. From a good vintage with variable quality, let's see how this Blanquette de Limoux is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

ANTECH CUVÉE FRANÇOISE BRUT BLANQUETTE DE LIMOUX 2023 - Traditional Method, AOP, Languedoc, France (#44204) (XD) - $23.95
100% Mauzac aged on its lees for 30 months. The open, medium+ to medium-high intensity nose offers a fine mix of lemon citrus, leesy mineral, and ripe apple aromas with touches of toasty brioche, white floral, autolytic, and savoury characters. The medium+ to medium-full bodied palate is dry and gently honeyed with delicious, sliightly tangy flavours of apple, lemon, and citrus tapering to savoury, leesy minerals, and toasty brioche. It has fresh acidity and crisp bubbles, along with a fine mineral texture. The mineral notes carry through to the long, savoury, and textured finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91 pts

Very small quanities of other wines by Antech are available at the LCBO, while the full range (and in larger quantities) can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Antech Cuvée Françoise Brut Nature Blanquette de Limoux (Languedoc) - Wine Review

Tonight's sparkling wine review is a lovely, traditional method sparkling wine from Limoux. It is brand-new to the LCBO, arriving as part of the feature on Special Sparklers in the December 20th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection - with plenty of bottles still available for your next celebratory event.

It is produced by Famille Antech (pronounced "An-tesh"), a well-respected, celebrated, and family-owned winery that specializes in the production of traditional method sparkling wines made with the Mauzac varietal grown on the hillsides of the Limoux wine region in Languedoc. The winery has been passed down from one generation to the next and is currently run by Françoise Antech-Gazeau and her son, Baptiste, the sixth and seventh generations of the family, respectively.

Limoux is believed to be the birthplace of traditional method sparkling wine (where secondary fermentation takes place in bottle), with records dating back to 1544 in the abbey of Saint-Hilaire, near Limoux. Antech's history begins in 1860, when the winery was founded by Zélie and Jules, who followed their family's passion for the vine and wine. Women played a central role in the history of the winery each step of the way, and in 1996 Françoise joined the family estate and played an instrumental role in elevating Antech into one of the region's top sparkling wine producers.

Today, Famille Antech continues to cultivate the land in Limoux, where the unique terroir mixes the freshness of the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean climate. The vineyards located at 400 metres above sea level enjoy ideal winegrowing with natural drainage, significant diurnal temperatures, and freshness from the snow-covered slopes of the Pyrenees until May.

In 2020, Françoise's son, Baptiste, joined the winery to work alongside his mother and continue the family's long-standing traditions, while also introducing fresh energy to the project. Since 2020, Antech has begun their tradition to organic viticulture and prefers agriculture that respects the environment, including harnessing the ubiquitous winds off the hillsides. They are also making a concerted effort to further develop the Mauzac grape varietal, which is perfectly suited to this microclimate.

At Antech, the philosophy is to combine tradition with innovation in their work every year by combining their centenary knowledge with inspiration from their travels to other wine regions. A minimalist approach is preferred, thereby allowing the terroir to express itself naturally.

This sparkling wine is crafted in the traditional method using 100% Mauzac that was grown on limestone soil and hand-harvested from parcels located in two areas - those that benefit from the seaside Mediterranean climate, and those located in the cooler Pyrenees mountains. The vineyards are in conversion to organic, while the vineyards located at altitude in the foothills of the Pyrenees are dry farmed. To vinify this wine, the grapes were direct pressed using slow and low pressure and fermented in the traditional method with zero dosage. It was aged for an average of 30 months on its lees.

Famille Antech's commitment to sustainability is evident in this wine as they have used a 15% lighter weight bottle that is made using 90% recycled glass, as well as the label that is bio-sourced and made from natural cotton. Let's see how this traditional method Blanquette de Limoux crafted with Mauzac is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

ANTECH CUVÉE FRANÇOISE BRUT NATURE BLANQUETTE DE LIMOUX - Traditional Method, AOP, Languedoc, France (#44204) (XD) - $22.95
100% Mauzac. The medium+ intensity nose is autolytic, toasty, and yeasty layered over lemon citrus and ripe apple aromas in an elegant and delicate profile. It is light to medium-bodied with fresh and racy acidity on the dry palate, with lively bubbles and toasty, autolytic, yeasty, leesy, lemon citrus, apple, and spice flavours. Silky, juicy mouthfeel on the mid-palate. Yeasty and autolytic notes taper to leesy minerals on the long, clean, crisp, and juicy finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts

One other sparkling wine by Famille Antech is available on clearance in very small quantities at the LCBO, while the full range can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Antech Réserve M Le Mauzac Extra Brut Blanquette de Limoux 2022 (Languedoc) - Wine Review

Tonight's sparkling wine review is a lovely Blanquette de Limoux crafted in the traditional method using the Mauzac varietal. This bubbly was featured as part of the theme on Women in Wine in the recent March 1st LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection and is widely available at LCBO outlets across Ontario.

It is produced by Maison Antech, a family-owned winery that has been passionately producing traditional method sparkling wines for seven generations on the hillsides of the Limoux wine region of Languedoc. Each generation has contributed their energy and passed down their exceptional know-how from one generation to the next, with women playing a central role and demonstrating a strength of character each step of the way.

The estate winery was initially established by the Tisseyre-Limouzy family in the late-19th century. 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. Eugénie was one of the first women in Languedoc to manage a vineyard. In 1930, Eugénie's niece, Marguerite, married fellow vintner Edmond Antech, merging two winemaking families and giving birth to the Antech name that still stands today.

In 1965, brothers Georges and Roger, the sons of Edmond and Marguerite, took over the reins of the estate. By the 1970s, the brothers had decided to focus on producing only sparkling wines. Joining the estate in 1996 was Françoise, Georges' daughter and the sixth generation of the family. Françoise carried on the family tradition and has played an instrumental role in elevating Maison Antech into one of the region's top sparkling wine producers.

The family has cultivated the land in Limoux since 1860, a land with a unique terroir where the freshness of the Pyrenees mountain range mixes with the Mediterranean climate. Maison Antech is situated at an altitude of 400 metres above sea level, where the vines enjoy ideal growing conditions such as natural drainage, high diurnal temperature ranges between day and night, and the cool breezes coming off the snowy Pyrenees slopes until May. These growing conditions promote the vivacity and tension necessary to produce wines with great effervescence.

With the seventh generation of the family, Françoise's son, Baptiste, also now working at the winery, Maison Antech has been actively engaged in using a sustainable approach to viticulture and winemaking that respects the environment and takes advantage of the omnipresent winds coming off the hillsides. Their efforts are directed towards the development of the Mauzac grape varietal, which is perfectly suited to this microclimate in Limoux. Antech crafts their wines using a minimalist approach, allowing the place to reflect itself without. All the grapes are carefully hand-harvested in order to respect the quality of the grape and preserve freshness. To vinify their wines, the grapes are slowly and delicately pressed, and fermented at low temperatures. The wines spend the winter on their lees, then age for a prolonged period to reveal their complexity. Depending on the wine, dosage is added.

From a very good vintage in Limoux, let's see how this 2022 Blanquette de Limoux sparkling wine is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

ANTECH RÉSERVE M LE MAUZAC EXTRA BRUT BLANQUETTE DE LIMOUX 2022 - Traditional method, AP, Languedoc, France (#656470) (D) - $21.95
The fragrant, medium-high intensity nose offers a fresh, fine, and elegant mix of ripe lemon citrus, yellow & white floral toasty, autolytic, brioche, and leesy mineral aromas, plus touches of stone fruit, apple, and pear. It's light-to-mid-weighted, dry, and gently honeyed with lovely lemon citrus, brioche, toasty, floral, leesy, and stone fruit flavours supported by crisp acidity and bubbles. Leesy, stony mineral, and toasty notes linger on the crisp, dry, and lengthy finish. Versatile for pairing with food and a highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts

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

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

Tonight's 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 August 13th 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...

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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