Domaine Collin Cremant de Limoux

Limoux has a strong claim to being the cradle of sparkling wine. Records from the abbey of Saint-Hilaire document a sparkling wine here in 1531, predating Champagne by more than a century. Tucked into the foothills of the Pyrenees, it is the coolest, most inland corner of the Languedoc, where damp Atlantic currents meet warm Mediterranean air and a wide day-to-night temperature swing preserves acidity. Philippe Collin, a native of Champagne whose family made wine there for generations, moved here in 1980 when Champagne land grew impossibly expensive, bringing Champenois technique to a warmer, higher, more affordable terroir. His farming is sustainable and biodiverse. This is the first traditional method wine in the flight, made exactly as Champagne is, with the second fermentation and its aging happening inside the bottle. The historic local grape, Mauzac, has largely given way to a Champagne-style blend led by Chardonnay for brightness, filled out by Chenin Blanc for texture and a little Pinot Noir for depth. Limestone rich soils and lees aging give green apple, pear, citrus, and wet stone notes wrapped in a creamy fine mousse with a whisper of brioche.