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Blanquette de Limoux

Wine rated 3.2/5Wine rated 3.2/5Wine rated 3.2/5Wine rated 3.2/5Wine rated 3.2/5
3.2/5See the 53 reviews
Blanquette de Limoux
Limoux is one of France's oldest vineyards, with a long history of vine-growing. It is mentioned in the writings of the Roman historian Titus Livius, written in the first century AD. It is also prestigious, since it was in Limoux in 1544 that the Benedictine monks of Saint-Hilaire Abbey discovered the principle of secondary fermentation in the bottle, enabling them to master the production of sparkling wines. 
Historically, Blanquette de Limoux was the world's first bubbly wine, predating by almost a century the appearance of the first champagnes, whose production is more recent. Since the 19th century, the Limoux vineyards have covered all the hillsides above the valleys of the Aude and its tributaries. Today, the Limoux vineyards boast five appellations, including AOP Blanquette de Limoux, one of the very first AOCs to be recognized in France (1938).

The grape variety endemic to the region, used to make Blanquette de Limoux, is Mauzac, which must account for at least 90% of these cuvées, and may be supplemented by up to 10% chardonnay and/or chenin. All grapes are harvested by hand. 

Blanquette de Limoux is vinified using the traditional method. When the grapes are pressed, the first juices are collected to form the "têtes de cuvées". After an initial alcoholic fermentation, the wine is blended and then fermented in the bottle by adding a liqueur de tirage. This allows the wine to foam, while the bottles rest on the lees for nine months, during which any remaining sediment in the wine is stirred daily towards the neck. This is followed by the "dégagement" process to expel the deposit. Finally, before corking the bottles with a definitive cork, a liqueur d'expédition can be added to give the wine its brut, dry or demi-sec character.
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Antech - Blanquette de Limoux Réserve Extra Brut 2021

1*Étoile Hachette

mauzac
fruity
aperitif

"Rediscover this flagship appellation of the region, with fine, fresh bubbles, featuring Mauzac!"

"Everything's good here, there's nothing to throw away" could be the motto of this Limoux house! If the jurors gave a slight preference to this Réserve, it's for the quality of its bubbles, its freshness, the tonicity of its fruit and its little bitterness on the finish, which refreshes and convinces". (Le Guide Hachette 2024)

Antech - Blanquette de Limoux Réserve Brut 2020

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4/5 (2 reviews)

2*Étoiles Hachette

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90/100 Bettane & Desseauve

mauzac
fruity
floral
fine bubbles
aperitif
quality-price

"We love the clean, intense fruitiness that irrigates a fresh, full-bodied, long-lasting palate. An alert, well-balanced bubble". (Le Guide Hachette des Vins 2023) Rediscover this flagship appellation of the region, with its fine, fresh bubbles, featuring Mauzac!

PARDI - Spritz à la Française (coffret 3 bouteilles)

Rated 3.6/5Rated 3.6/5Rated 3.6/5Rated 3.6/5Rated 3.6/5

3.6/5 (8 reviews)

Recommandé Terre de Vins

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Coup de Coeur 1jour1vin

floral
freshness
citrus
aperitif
among friends

"A refreshing cocktail for summer!

"Pardi! liqueur is made from a maceration of eight plants, including sweet and bitter oranges, ginger, chamomile and lemon. [...] Françoise and Baptiste Antech have chosen their Blanquette Extra-Brut to accompany the Kina Karo liqueur for this delicious cocktail. Tested for you, it's a delight, where fruity citrus accents meet delicate floral notes; the restraint on sugar and aromatic authenticity make an immeasurable difference to industrial versions. To be tried without delay " (Terre de Vins 2021) - Box of 3 bottles: 1 liqueur (70cl) and 2 bottles of Extra-Brut sparkling wine (75cl) equivalent to 15 glasses of 15cl -.

Antech - M Le Mauzac Brut 2016

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3.4/5 (5 reviews)

2*Coup de Coeur Hachette

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91/100 Wine Enthusiast

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90/100 RVF

mauzac
round-tipped
surprising
subtle

"Very high expression of Mauzac!"

"A domaine in top form, as every year. The prize this time goes to its M Le Mauzac 2016, aged for a long time in the cellar. The result is a delicate bubble and a subtle nose of citrus tinged with dried fruit and a hint of minerality. A silky entry on the palate, a caressing texture, a light roundness, a long persistence of fruit: everything here is fine and tasteful." (Le Guide Hachette des Vins 2022)

Antech - M Le Mauzac Brut Nature

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3.7/5 (3 reviews)

16/20 Jancis Robinson

mauzac
fine bubbles
freshness
ceviche

"Apple blossom and menthol. Dry but pleasant thanks to delicate bubbles. More pearly than sparkling. Green apples, pomelo zest and peel, chicory leaf and a hint of nectarine. The Mauzac is laid bare. I'd like to try it with seafood" (Jancis Robinson) Pure Mauzac!

Antech - M Le Mauzac 3.0

Wine rated 3.3/5Wine rated 3.3/5Wine rated 3.3/5Wine rated 3.3/5Wine rated 3.3/5

3.3/5 (6 reviews)

1*Étoile Hachette

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16/20 Jancis Robinson

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90/100 Wine Enthusiast

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91/100 Bettane & Desseauve

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90/100 RVF

mauzac
friand
genuine
oysters and seafood
aperitif

"Confoundingly fresh, with notes of green apple and lime. The finish is tender and surprisingly chalky for this clay-limestone cuvée. The whole is invigorating and very refreshing, perfect as an aperitif." (Le Guide des Vins Bettane+Desseauve 2022) The sublimated expression of Mauzac in a unique process: zero added sugar during fermentation, bottling and dosage!

Alain Cavaillès - Blanquette de Limoux Nostra Perla (doux)

Rated 3/5Rated 3/5Rated 3/5Rated 3/5Rated 3/5

3/5 (2 reviews)

Perla Nostra is a sweet, 100% Mauzac effervescent made using traditional methods. Light in alcohol, with delicate bubbles and pronounced apple aromas, it is the ideal accompaniment to desserts such as tarte tatin, pear crumble, crêpe suzette... A delicious sweetness.

Antech - Brut Grande Réserve 2015

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5/5 (1 review)

2*Coup de Coeur Hachette

"A favorite in the previous edition with its 2014 Tradition cuvée, the Antech house is doing just as well this year with this crystalline Grande Réserve, with its fine, plentiful bubbles. On the nose, fresh apple mingles with mirabelle plum and white flowers, with a touch of mineral on top. This aromatic complexity is echoed on the palate, which is full of finesse and elegance, fresh and lively". (Le Guide Hachette des Vins de France 2018)

Antech - Blanquette de Limoux Tradition Brut

Wine rated 2.7/5Wine rated 2.7/5Wine rated 2.7/5Wine rated 2.7/5Wine rated 2.7/5

2.7/5 (22 reviews)

2*Coup de Coeur Hachette

"A fine tribute to Roger Antech, who passed away at the end of 2015, this blanquette stands out from the crowd. Pale yellow with fine mousse, it charms with a complex nose of rare intensity, made up of hawthorn and white-fleshed fruit. The ample, well-balanced palate confirms the olfactory impression, with great power and length". (Le Guide Hachette des Vins 2017)