Crémant de Limoux Wine
Philippe Colin was born and raised in Champagne but astutely compared Languedocian land costs with those of his native countryside and relocated to the hills near Toureilles above Limoux in 1980. He stayed loyal to the grapes of his homeland favouring Pinot Noir and Chardonnay over the local Mauzac when he planted his vineyard from scratch. Today, he cultivates 20 hectares of vines located on free-draining slopes at around 400 metres above sea level.
We first sampled his wines back in 2008 and were impressed by their balance and finesse. His 'Cuvée Sélection' is made from a blend of 75% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay and is bottle-fermented and matured for about 3 years before being disgorged. The finished wine has a fine mousse, uplifting spring blossom scents and a persistent orchard fruit palate with a fresh, dry finish. Philippe also makes an excellent sparkling rosé from a base of 50% Chardonnay along with 25% each of Pinot Noir and Chenin Blanc. With an appealing coral-pink colour, a red berry bouquet and palate redolent of raspberries and wild strawberries, it is a versatile crowd-pleaser.
