Tour de France des crémants : les bulles du Limoux et de Bordeaux
For this tasting, we initiated a “tour of France” in order to understand the nuances of crémants region by region. An exciting journey. We asked the producers to provide us with two of their crémants. Their ambassador cuvée on the one hand, that is to say the most produced and very often the least expensive Crémant in their range, and on the other hand a special cuvée (indicated in our file by a star *) illustrating a special know-how, another vision of crémant.
After the crémants of Alsace and Burgundy, let’s go to Languedoc with the Limoux vineyard, a formidable playground for sparkling wines which have captivating grape varieties, such as Mauzac, Chenin, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and terroirs in the valley or at altitude, guaranteeing delicacy and freshness. Historical place of the bubble, where the ancestral method (a single fermentation which ends in the bottle) hatched from the 16th century, this Languedoc appellation has beautiful playgrounds for crémant, with influences sometimes oceanic, sometimes Mediterranean.
Four grape varieties, three northern (Chardonnay, Chenin and Pinot Noir) and one southern (Mauzac), are used to produce these characterful bubbles. The altitude of the soils (200 to 400 meters) favors a particular freshness.
Read also:
Before passing through Bordeaux, with the Merlots and Cabernet Francs vinified in white, it is more difficult to find harmonious wines. Remy Breque, he bets on Sémillon, here more charming and greedy. Sémillon and Sauvignon mainly composing the Crémants de Bordeaux. To these grape varieties are added Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Few chosen among the sixteen cuvées tasted, often too rustic.
Tasting conditions
467 crémants were tasted by Karine Valentin and Alexis Goujard in September 2022 at the premises of La RVF following a call for samples translated to all producers. The wines were tasted by estate, classic cuvée and special cuvée in parallel.
Limoux Cremants
93/100
JL Denois
Clay Bubble
What a pleasure to taste this crémant! Finely oxidative, it asserts itself with a mouth of great elegance and a subtle patina. Its refreshing vinosity guarantees good persistence and an extremely tasty finish. It rivals the fine cuvées of Champagne.
Price: €17 // Bottles/year: 29,000
91/100
Domain of Mouscaillo
Nature
A superb fresh aromatic, citrus and white flowers, emerges from this beautiful brut nature. A pretty slender and greedy chair gives it a very palatable balance. A delicious crémant! A reference.
Price: €16 // Bottles/year: 9,000
91/100
Domain The Highlands
Nature Josephine
A frankly tasty approach to the fruit, a chair full of gluttony, in a well-managed free spirit. With an irreproachable sincerity of expression, this crémant is alluring in its early youth. He got an appetite.
Price: €20 // Bottles/year: 20,000
Find the full article in La Revue du vin de France in November, on newsstands October 26. If you are not a subscriber, subscribe to consult our files.
The following is reserved for subscribers