Blanquette de Limoux

Blanquette de Limoux on Languedoc Wineshop : This is a dry sparkling wine (brut) produced according to what is called the ‘traditional method’. The Mauzac, the traditional grape variety of the Limoux vineyard, composes the major part of the blends which can be completed with up to 10% of Chenin and Chardonnay. During the pressing of the grapes, the first juices which are drawn are used to produce what are called ‘Tête de Cuvée’ wines.  Those produced from various vineyards and terroirs are then blended. Unfermented grape juice is added to provoke the second fermentation in the bottles which are stored with the lees of fermentation for nine months. The fermentation deposit is worked up to the bottle neck by gentle, regular turning and inclination. Then the neck is frozen and the deposit is extracted from the bottle. Before the wines are definitively corked, a liqueur (called the ‘liqueur d’expédition) is added to finalise the style of each wine as a brut, dry or half dry. Wines are then matured in cellars for 9 months before sales. Sieur d'Arques, Domaine de Martinolles, Maison Antech, Alain Cavaillès, Domaine J. Laurens...