Saint Hilaire Brut White Sparkling Wine 2021, Blanquette de Limoux, France

This is France’s oldest sparkling wine, created by the Benedictine Monks of the Abbey of Saint-Hilaire over 450 years ago — more than 100 years before the first Champagne was created. Blanquette de Limoux can contain 3 grape varieties: Mauzac (which must constitute a minimum of 90% of the wine), Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc. 90% Mauzac, 5% Chenin Blanc, 5% Chardonnay. The Limoux vineyards are located in Languedoc, in Southern France, at the foothills of the Pyrenees Mountains. The grapes are selected from clay-limestone plots that capture both the Oceanic and Mediterranean influences. All of the grapes are picked by hand and the wine is produced using the Traditional method of secondary fermentation in the bottle…the same method used for Champagne. Minimum 12 months of horizontal aging in the bottle. The nose reveled in hints of pastry dough, citrusy notes of tangerine and lemon and a touch of peach melba and sea air. On the palate Saint-Hilaire Brut displays aromatic flavors of peach, pear and green apple skins with a wonderful, full, creamy mouthfeel.