Domaine de Martinolles Crémant De Limoux Brut

The Limoux wine region is at the western most point of the Languedoc and is located just south of the medieval city of Carcassonne. It has a unique geoclimate, a situation due to the dual influences of the Atlantic which brings cool and wet weather and the Mediterranean which delivers hot and dry conditions. The Domaine de Martinolles was owned by the Vergnes family from 1926 until 2011 when the estate was sold to a local Languedoc vigneron, Jean Claude Mas. The vineyards lie on the same hillsides that the monks of St. Hilaire cultivated in 1531 when they produced the world’s first sparkling wine.  

The vines, which are planted in chalky soils at elevations ranging from 200 to 600 meters, are worked traditionally without herbicides or fertilizers. Domaine de Martinolles is a member of Terra Vitis, an organization that certifies the practice of sustainable agriculture. Pale dress enhanced by golden reflections, beautiful effervescence, persistent cord with fine and dancing bubbles. Intensity and finesse where the aromas of honey and acacia marry subtle notes of candied citrus fruits. Superb harmony, very good balance sugar / acidity. The fruits of the nose are found in a long and persistent finish.    

Many French historians believe that the Limoux region in the south of France invented sparkling wine (before Champagne did in the north). In 1531, the monks of Saint Hilaire created sparkling wine in the foothills of the Pyrenees from cool climate vineyards. The exceptional quality found its way to the other side of the Atlantic : Thomas Jefferson, was the greatest admirer in America of Limoux and cultivated his love of France and Crémant de Limoux. Made of 60% Chardonnay, 20% Chenin Blanc, 10% Pinot Noir and 10% Mauzac, this is so fresh, dry, crisp and refined. We positively loved it! White peach, apricot skin, croissant, flowers and salty stones abound.  

Region: Languedoc-Roussillon Vineyards of antiquity – if any viticultural region of France has claim to being the oldest, the Greek vineyards around Agde that date to the 5th century BC and the discovery of pre-historic fossils of grapevines in caves outside of Montpellier give the Languedoc quite the hand to play. Geographically, this expansive area reaches from Limoux to Costières de Nîmes linking the appellations of Southwest France with those of the Rhone Valley. It is sandwiched between the Massif Central mountains, the Pyrénées mountains, and the Mediterranean Sea. Not surprisingly, the varied areas of the Languedoc have strikingly different terroirs with vineyards pushing up against mountain ranges with vines as high as 500 meters, vines planted along the Mediterranean coastal plains and seemingly endless scrubland in between. In addition to a range of terroirs that span geological periods from the primary to the quaternary, and include virtually every soil type found in France, there are significant differences in rainfall, humidity, sun-hours and wind that shape the typicity of the individual vineyards...