I do apologies in advance there re some wines which i won't be able to tell you who was the producer it s a very long time and sadly at this time i was not writing some of them.
For this tasting we will be visiting the Languedc Roussilon and Alsace
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Blanquette de Limoux NV, Languedoc Roussillon
There is 45000 Acres of CDO (controlled designation of origin), a production of 166800hL in OD, 692000hL in VDP white, 240000hL in VDP pink and 48000hl in sweet wine.. A production of 81% of red, 12% White, 7% of rose with a long list of grape varieties.
The Limoux is very famous for their sparkling they are producing a very big amount per annum. They are using only 3 grapes 10% Chenin blanc, 10% Chardonnay and 90% Mauzac.
The Blanquette de Limoux is known to be the oldest sparkling wine, the latest surviving written records date from 1531 by a Benedictine Monks. It is in the Abbey of Saint Hilaire the discovery happened even Champagne was not producing it is said that it would be the Limoux whom introduced it to Champagne! Now let's not start a war of who discovered it first!
By the 19th Century the Blanquette was enjoying its World wild popularity,
To produce Blanquette de Limoux , the producers are using the same method of Champagne with the second fermentation in the bottle before the final bottling. The result gives a wine with freshness, a perfect acidity, dry and a pleasant yeasty note on the finish.
A region full of different view, rich on food, wines and the people are the most kind and welcoming. It is beautiful under the snow as with a beautiful sunshine and spring with all those flowers that burst o the windows. I loved it! Anyway back to our wines.
Domaine Schlumberger Pinot Gris 2000
You have to know the History of the vineyard before the wine.
Alsace is located in East of France. In the XVI Century settled the Monks known as The Abbey's Princes in Guebwiller, they had full control of the vineyard.
By 1810 the first of the family Schlumberger set up a factory of machinery, as he was attached to the land he bought 20 hectares(49 acres) of vines. Domaine Schlumberger started! In the early XX century the phylloxera attacked the region and destroyed a large amount of vineyards. Loads of winemakers abandoned their vineyard this is where Ernest Schlumberger decided to bought a large amount of vines and created some terraces and established the horizontally plantings that you will know now.
This wine had a beautiful golden yellow color with notes on the nose of honey apricot and white flowers. The mouth was full but with a lovely freshness at the end, the note of honey and apricot came back on the palate with a nice smoky note.