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  • Date publishedSaturday, September 3, 2022

Rémy Ferbras Terre de Mistral Plan de Dieu Côtes du Rhône-Villages 2018 (France) - Wine Review

After the enjoying the lovely 2017 Rémy Ferbras Terre de Mistral Plan de Dieu Côtes du Rhône-Villages in Spring of last year, for red wine review I'm delighted to see the next vintage come to the LCBO next weekend as part of the LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Rémy Ferbras, a range of wines that pays tribute to the first cellar master of Maison Grandes Serres - a winery with deep roots in the Southern Rhône Valley at the heart of the presigious vineyards of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Rémy Ferbras is an iconic figure of the winery as he was a tireless advocate of the Rhône terroir and its grape varieties. He also contributed largely through his work and tenacity to the development and recognition of Grandes Serres. The Rémy Ferbras range is a result of strict selections, precise vinification and ageing, to produce rich, elegant, complex, and flavourful wines, just as Rémy Ferbras would have it.

This red wine from Rhône is a classic blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre, or GSM for short. The grapes were grown within the Plan de Dieu Côtes du Rhône-Villages appellation on soils mostly composed of limestone pebbles and brown clay. After harvesting the grapes at optimum maturity, each variety was vinified separately and after alcoholic and malolactic fermentations, the wine was blended and bottled.

The 2018 vintage in the Southern Rhône was a bit of a hit and miss with humidity, mildew, and uneven ripening issues due to unexpected rainfall. However, despite a challenging growing season, the resulting wines were generally good and more densely concentrated that normal with strong fruit flavours and structure. Let's see how this 2018 Rhône wine from Plan de Dieu is tasting tonight...

Rémy Ferbras Terre de Mistral Plan de Dieu Côtes du Rhône-Villages 2018 (89 pts)

Tasting Note:

RÉMY FERBRAS TERRE DE MISTRAL PLAN DE DIEU CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2018 - AP, Rhône, France (#538009) (XD) - $15.95
This classic blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre has a fresh, perfumed, medium-high intensity nose with a lovely bouquet of ripe dark red cherry, floral, and spices with touches of red plum and subtle earthiness. On the medium to medium-full bodied palate it offers delicious red cherry and raspberry flavours in a slightly cooked profile, plus spices and earthy-stony-smoky minerality notes. Acids are fresh and well-balanced, while the tannins are smooth, refined, and lightly structured with a subtle grip on the back palate. Tangy with lovely stony mineral notes lingering on the very long aftertaste. Enjoy this recommended buy over the next 3-4 years. Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines by Rémy Ferbras are available through their Agent - DBINO David Beauroy Selections.


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  • Date publishedWednesday, August 31, 2022

Laya 2020 (Spain) - Wine Review

After enjoying the 2018 Laya in January of last year, tonight's wine review is the latest vintage of this delicious, vegan-friendly Spanish red wine that is coming to LCBO VINTAGES on September 10th.

Bodegas Atalaya is a small winery founded by the Gil family in 2007. The bodega is located in the Almansa wine region, within the province of Albacete, in the east of Spain's largest winegrowing region, La Mancha, and in a transition zone between the high central plateau of La Mancha and the Mediterranean Sea. The region's vineyards are located on mainly flat areas of land with low-fertile, limestone soils, and experience very little rainfall which forces the vines to work hard and deep into the soils in the search for nutrients. Extreme hot and cold temperatures in the region promote higher acidity and freshness. The prinicple grape of the region is Garnacha Tintorera (aka Alicante Bouschet) followed by Monastrell (aka Mourvèdre), with both of these grape varieties thriving in the region.

The Gil family produced their first wines from humble beginnings in 1916 in the heart of Jumilla, which is just south of Almansa. Founded by Juan Gil Gimènez and continuously family-owned, Gil Family Estates is currently run by fourth generation of the family - brothers Miguel and Ángel. Today, Gil Family Estates is made up of a number of small wineries with over 1,400 hectares of total vineyards across Spain's many winegrowing regions. They craft wines using only indigenous varieties.

This red wine is crafted using 70% Garnacha Tintorera and 30% Monastrell that was grown in DOP Almansa. The bush vines are planted on calcareous soils between 700 and 1000 metres above sea level and produce grapes that concentrate complexity, structure, colour, and fruit forward flavours. It was vinified by fermentation in stainless steel tanks and followed by ageing in French oak barrels for 4 months.

The 2020 vintage in Castilla La Mancha is described as "excellent" and the best in the last 10 years. Let's see how this red wine from Almansa is tasting tonight...

Laya 2020 (89 pts)

Tasting Note:

LAYA 2020 - Vegan, DOP Almansa, Spain (#132605) (XD) - $16.95
This blend of 70% Garnacha Tintorera and 30% Monastrell has a fragrant, intensely aromatic nose offering very ripe black-blue-purple fruit aromas joined by plummy and savoury undertones with touches of pepper spice, limestone mineral, and floral. It's medium+ bodied on the dry palate with ripe black-blue-purple berry and plum flavours. Some peppery spice and earthy mineral notes add a nice savoury component. It's balanced with fresh acidity and supple, lightly structured, and grainy tannins. Mineral notes linger on the long, supple finish. Recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Other delicious wines by Gil Family Estates and Bodegas Atalaya can be ordered through their Agent - Profile Wine Group.


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  • Date publishedWednesday, August 24, 2022

August 27, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Flagship & Online Exclusives

LCBO Wine Picks: August 27, 2022 VINTAGES Release
This release was meant to be the last experiment of the summer where the entire release is available exclusively online via lcbo.com. However, the August 27, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release will not only be available on lcbo.com, but also brings with it the return of Flagship Exclusives. Thus, the final release of summer will be available both in-store at Flagship Exclusive locations and online at lcbo.com. There are 53 wines in this release and all of the wines should be available for purchase by Saturday, and quite possibly a day or two earlier.

As per the usual, there is no theme to this release, so we begin with my top red wine recommendations. We start with a pair of lovely New World Pinot Noir wines - one from Chile and the other from New Zealand. There is also a fine Gamay from the volcanic soils of Côte du Py in Beaujolais, while the Barolo is, of course, made with Nebbiolo. My last red wine pick is from Chile and it is crafted using the País varietal - a grape of Spanish origin that was exported abroad and was Chile's most widely planted variety up until the turn of the 21st century.

Casas del Bosque Gran Reserva Pinot Noir 2019 (91 pts)Clos Henri Pinot Noir 2017

Pierre Dupond Morgon Côte du Py 2018Laberinto Arcillas País 2020

The País varietal has various synonyms in Argentina and is most often referred to as Criolla Chica. In this release, I am delighted to finally see Criolla come to VINTAGES and it arrives in the form of a Pét-Nat sparkling wine that was grown in Mendoza.

Alpamanta Breva Pét-Nat Sparkling Criolla 2021 (91+ pts)

Among my top white wine picks, the only blend is the Rioja Blanco that consists of 90% Viura and 10% Malvasia, all of it aged for 6 years in barrel. Single varietal wines include a pair of excellent Chardonnay wines - one from Niagara and the other from Friuli, as well as a Grüner Veltliner from Wachau in Austria. Lastly, the Riesling Trocken from Rheingau has just a pinch of sweetness.

Bachelder Wismer-Wingfield Ouest Vineyard Chardonnay 2019Leitz Berg Schlossberg Grosses Gewächs Riesling Trocken 2019

Tegernseerhof Smaragd Bergdistel Grüner Veltliner 2017

Enjoy my top wine picks from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

  • CASAS DEL BOSQUE GRAN RESERVA PINOT NOIR 2019 - Valle de Casablanca, Chile (#525022) (XD) - $22.95  91 pts  wine review
  • LABERINTO ARCILLAS PAÍS 2020 - DO Valle del Maule, Chile (#24759) (XD) - $24.95
  • PIERRE DUPOND MORGON CÔTE DU PY 2018 - AP, Beaujolais, France (#18419) (XD) - $26.95
  • CLOS HENRI PINOT NOIR 2017 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#56556) (XD) - $34.95
  • ABRIGO GIOVANNI RAVERA BAROLO 2016 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#25743) (XD) - $58.95

White Wine:

  • TEGERNSEERHOF SMARAGD BERGDISTEL GRÜNER VELTLINER 2017 - Wachau, Austria (#377606) (XD) - $36.95
  • BACHELDER WISMER-WINGFIELD OUEST VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2019 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#520403) (XD) - $47.95
  • LIS NERIS JUROSA CHARDONNAY 2018 - DOC Friuli Isonzo, Friuli, Italy (#382960) (XD) - $48.95
  • LOPEZ DE HEREDIA VIÑA TONDONIA RESERVA BLANCO 2010 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#45500) (XD) - $67.95
  • LEITZ BERG SCHLOSSBERG GROSSES GEWÄCHS RIESLING TROCKEN 2019 - Qualitätswein, Rheingau, Germany (#27115) (D) - $78.95

Sparkling Wine:

  • ALPAMANTA BREVA PÉT-NAT SPARKLING CRIOLLA 2021 - Vegan, ancestral method, Mendoza, Argentina (#24889) (XD) - $32.95  91+ pts  wine review


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  • Date publishedFriday, August 19, 2022

Ferzo Abruzzo Pecorino Superiore 2021 (Abruzzo) - Wine Review

white wine review is this lovely Pecorino (not to be confused with the cheese) from Abruzzo that arrived at the LCBO last weekend as part of the feature on summer white wines in the LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Ferzo Wines, an estate that was founded in 1973 in Abruzzo and is now owned by Codice Citra. 'Ferzo' is a patch of fabric that is stitched together with others to create a large sail - and its shape adorns the label of each Ferzo wine. With wine, the union of the finest viticultural "patches" in Abruzzo gives life to Ferzo in a single grand label that embraces the region's indigenous grape varieties.

The wines of Ferzo grow out of a small-scale, highly selected viticultural operation, and in the skilful hands of local vintners. Ferzo aims to promote the local Abruzzo grape varieties and showcase the Abruzzo vocation for winemaking. All of the grapes are grown in the province of Chieti which has a variety of terroirs and microclimates, with each contributing unique characteristics to the grapes aromas and flavours to produce wines of uncompromising quality.

Pecorino is traditionally grown in Central Italy anywhere from the tops of mountains to coastal hillsides and often reflects the complexities of its terroir. From autochthonous vines, this Pecorino was grown on the eastern side of Central Italy within the region of Abruzzo in the hills of the province of Chieti. After harvesting the grapes in September, it was gently pressed after short contact with skins at low temperatures. It was fermented in stainless steel tanks at a controlled-temperature to enhance the aromatic qualities of Pecorino.

The 2021 growing season had low rain and consequentially led to a long, dry and hot summer. With careful management in the vineyard, the result was fruit of excellent quality. I've tasted several previous vintages of this white wine and it's always delicious. Let's see how this 2021 Pecorino from Abruzzo is tasting tonight...

Ferzo Abruzzo Pecorino Superiore 2021 (90 pts)

Tasting Note:

FERZO ABRUZZO PECORINO SUPERIORE 2021 - DOP, Abruzzo, Italy (#573683) (XD) - $17.95
The fresh, medium-high intensity nose offers lovely ripe tropical fruit, citrus, peach, melon, floral, and apple aromas with hints of pineapple and minerals adding further interest. On the medium-full bodied it is ripe, lightly honeyed, yet dry, with ripe pineapple, tropical fruit, melon, citrus, and floral flavours with touches of minerality. It's all supported by fresh, vibrant, and juicy acidity, while leesy minerals flecked with citrus, tropical fruit, and apple notes linger on the long, juicy, and succulent finish. Quite possibly my favourite vintage so far. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

Other lovely wines by Ferzo can be ordered through their Agent - Univins and Spirits.


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  • Date publishedMonday, August 15, 2022

August 13, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Summer White Wines

LCBO Wine Picks: August 13, 2022 VINTAGES Release
Apologies for the delay! Here are my top wine picks from the August 13, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release. The theme of the release focuses on summery white wines. Also included in this release are many other lovely wines not part of the theme, as well as a sneak preview of the August 27th LCBO VINTAGES Release. By now, all of the wines from this release should be available in LCBO outlets across Ontario.

We begin with the theme on summery white wines and of the eighteen wines featured as part of the theme, six are included among my top white wine picks. The only blend among the half dozen is from Portugal and it consists of 70% Loureiro and 30% Alvarinho. There are also a pair of lovely white wines from Italy - a Pecorino from Abruzzo and a Falanghina from Salento. From Spain there is a Godello, and from New Zealand is a $20 Sauvignon Blanc. For sweet wine lovers, the consistently delicious Riesling from Niagara is your best bet.

Ferzo Abruzzo Pecorino Superiore 2021 (90 pts)Mud House Sauvignon Blanc 2021 (88 pts)

Among my red wine picks, the Gran Selezione Chianti Classico is a blend of 80% Sangiovese and 20% Merlot / Colorino, while the Brunello is 100% Sangiovese. From Rhône, the Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a blend of 60% Grenache, 31% Syrah, 8% Mourvèdre, and the balance other permitted varieties, while the Gigondas is a blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah. Also from France, the lovely red wine from Bordeaux consists of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. The red wine from South Africa is a blend 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Cabernet Franc, 13% Cinsault, 10% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot, and 1% Malbec, while on the local front the red wine from Niagara is a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, and 11% Cabernet Franc.

Château Clarke 2016 (92+ pts)Ruffino Riserva Ducale Oro Gran Selezione Chianti Classico 2017 (92 pts)

White wine picks from the rest of the release are led by the excellent $26 Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough and followed by a trio of Chardonnay wines - two from Burgundy and one from the high altitude region of Tupungato in Argentina.

Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc 2021 (92+ pts)Domaine Sève Terroir Pouilly-Fuissé 2020

Catena Appellation Chardonnay 2020

Among my dry rosé wine picks, the Prestige Rosé from Provence is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, and Rolle, while the M de Minuty consists of Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, and Tibouren. My third rosé recommendation is from Rhône and it is a blend of Syrah and Grenache.

My last wine picks is a lovely sparkling wine from Limoux, the birthplace of Champagne, and it is a blend of 70% Chardonnay, 20% Chenin Blanc, and 10% Mauzac.

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

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

  • 13TH STREET EXPRESSION SERIES CABERNET / MERLOT 2020 - Sustainable, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#18880) (XD) - $17.95
  • TERRAZAS DE LOS ANDES RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019 - Sustainable, Mendoza, Argentina (#77776) (XD) - $19.95
  • WARWICK PROFESSOR BLACK PITCH BLACK 2017 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#24250) (XD) - $19.95
  • ZUCCARDI Q MALBEC 2020 - Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#723478) (XD) - $20.95  89 pts  wine review
  • PIRRAMIMMA WHITE LABEL SHIRAZ 2019 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#987784) (XD) - $29.95
  • DOMAINE DU GRAPILLON D'OR 1806 GIGONDAS 2018 - AC, Rhône, France (#981787) (XD) - $36.95
  • RUFFINO RISERVA DUCALE ORO GRAN SELEZIONE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2017 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#353201) (XD) - $49.95  92 pts  wine review
  • CHÂTEAU CLARKE 2016 - AC Listrac-Médoc, Bordeaux, France (#503904) (XD) - $49.95  92+ pts  wine review
  • CHÂTEAU MONT-REDON CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2018 - AC, Rhône, France (#959627) (XD) - $54.95
  • SAN GIORGIO UGOLFORTE BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2016 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#372953) (XD) - $59.95
Zuccardi Q Malbec 2020 (89 pts)

White Wine:

  • MARIA PAPOILA LOUREIRO / ALVARINHO 2021 - DOC Vinho Verde, Portugal (#408146) (XD) - $17.95
  • MARTIN CODAX MARA MARTIN GODELLO 2020 - Vegan, DO Monterrei, Spain (#25613) (XD) - $17.95
  • FERZO ABRUZZO PECORINO SUPERIORE 2021 - DOP, Abruzzo, Italy (#573683) (XD) - $17.95  90 pts  wine review
  • TERRES SECRÈTES LES PRÉLUDES MÂCON-VILLAGES 2019 - Sustainable, AC, Burgundy, France (#23988) (XD) - $18.95
  • MUD HOUSE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2021 - Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#190454) (XD) - $19.95  88 pts  wine review
  • CATENA APPELLATION CHARDONNAY 2020 - Tupungato, Mendoza, Argentina (#10964) (XD) - $19.95
  • HENRY OF PELHAM ESTATE RIESLING 2020 - Sustainable, VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#557165) (M) - $19.95
  • MASSERIA ALTEMURA FALANGHINA 2020 - IGT Salento, Puglia, Italy (#23867) (XD) - $21.95
  • GREYWACKE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2021 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#164228) (XD) - $25.95  92+ pts  wine review
  • DOMAINE SÈVE TERROIR POUILLY-FUISSÉ 2020 - AC, Burgundy, France (#681056) (XD) - $32.95

Rosé Wine:

  • CHÂTEAU VAL-JOANIS TRADITION ROSÉ 2021 - AP Luberon, Rhône, France (#707281) (XD) - $19.95
  • M DE MINUTY ROSÉ 2021 - AP Côtes de Provence, France (#575316) (XD) - $27.95
  • CHÂTEAU MINUTY PRESTIGE ROSÉ 2021 - AP Côtes de Provence, France (#19849) (XD) - $39.95

Sparkling Wine:

  • ANTECH CUVÉE EUGÉNIE BRUT CRÉMANT DE LIMOUX 2018 - Traditional method, sustainable, AP, Languedoc, France (#25367) (XD) - $23.95  91 pts  wine review


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  • Date publishedFriday, August 12, 2022

Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc 2021 (New Zealand) - Wine Review

white wine review is this always terrific Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand. After a one year absence and skipping a couple of vintages, the 2021 vintage of this wine arrives at the LCBO this weekend as part of the LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Greywacke (pronounced Grey-wacky) was established in 2009 by legendary winemaker Kevin Judd. The name refers to the high prevalence of rounded greywacke river stones found in the soils of the vineyard in Rapaura. He registered the name while working for another winery in New Zealand for many successful years and sought to fulfill a dream to create his own wines. This dream became a reality for him and his wife, Kimberley, in 2009 and Greywacke remains a family affair located now in the heart of Marlborough's Omaka Valley, one of the Southern Valleys.

Kevin is a pioneer in Marlborough winemaking and uses a 'keep it simple' and hands-on approach with minimal interventionist winemaking techniques. All of the fruit for Greywacke wines are sourced from mature vineyards in prime viticultural sites. The vineyards are sustainably managed with a substantial and increasing portion coming from organically farmed sites. Crop levels are restricted to enhance concentration of flavours, while meticulous canopy management allows for sufficient sun exposure to deliver ripeness of flavour, textural richness, and optimum acid balance. Greywacke is accredited with Appellation Marlborough Wine to ensure provenance, authenticity and integrity. As a renowned photographer, Kevin's photos adorn the labels of all Greywacke wines.

For the 2021 vintage, the fruit was sourced from various prime vineyard sites in Marlborough's Southern Valleys and the central Wairau Plains, specifically in Woodbourne, Renwick, and Rapaura. This Sauvignon Blanc was grown on various soil types ranging from the young alluvial soils of Rapaura and Renwick which contain high proportions of New Zealand's ubiquitous greywacke river stones, to the older and denser clay-loam soils of the Southern Valleys. The grapes were mostly machine-harvested during cool and often cold night time conditions, then trucked to the winery in the Omaka Valley where they were lightly pressed to yield a modest volume of high-quality juice. It was fermented primarily in stainless steel tanks with cultured yeast, while a smaller portion underwent spontaneous indigenous yeast fermentation in old oak barrels. All individual vineyard batches were kept on their lees and separate until they were blended in late June, and finally bottled in mid-August of last year.

The 2021 growing season produced a smaller crop due to some very cold nights and light frost in September, followed by drought conditions from December to March. However, quality was not compromised as the vintage is described as exceptional with Sauvignon Blanc showing great intensity and balance. Having tasted several previous vintages of this Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc over the years, I fully expect this latest vintage to be just as delightful. Let's see how this 2021 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand is tasting tonight...

Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc 2021 (92+ pts)

Tasting Note:

GREYWACKE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2021 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#164228) (XD) - $25.95
Screw cap. Fragrant, perfumed, and highly aromatic, it is subtly nose-tingling and quite complex with ripe tropical fruit, passion fruit, guava, kiwi, mango, and citrus aromas with delicate floral tones and touches of rock melon and lemongrass. It's medium-full bodied and fleshy with very good concentration and ripe flavour replays of passion fruit, kiwi, guava, zesty citrus, mango, and lemongrass. Nicely textured on the mid-palate, while acids are fresh, juicy, and well-balanced. Leans more floral and citrusy with a sense of minerality on the very long, zesty finish. Keeps getting better every year. Highly recommended buy! Score: 92+ pts

Other excellent wines by Greywacke are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.


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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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