2023 Saint-Hilaire - Blanquette de Limoux Brut (750ml)

Saint-Hilaire takes its name from the Benedictine abbey in the southern foothills of Limoux, where monks are credited with producing the world's first sparkling wine. Records dating to 1531 document their work, placing Blanquette de Limoux more than a century ahead of Champagne's own sparkling wine tradition. That monastic legacy still shapes the wine today, with production rooted in the same corner of the Languedoc where the abbey once stood.

Blanquette de Limoux is built primarily from Mauzac, a grape native to the region and known locally as "blanquette" for its pale, downy leaves, with small additions of Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay permitted by the appellation. The wine undergoes secondary fermentation in bottle and rests on its lees for about twelve months, longer than the nine-month minimum the appellation requires, which helps develop its texture without adding heavy yeasty character.

The 2023 vintage pours pale gold with a fine, persistent mousse. The nose offers green apple, pear, and citrus with a light floral lift, while the palate stays crisp and dry with a clean, mineral-tinged finish. It makes an easy aperitif and pairs nicely with fresh fruit, light appetizers, or a weekend brunch spread.