French Bubbly from a region making Sparkling wine for 100 years longer than Champagne. Thomas Jefferson was the first American to import this wine to the US, Saint-Hilaire is a modern brand name and it refers to the Benedictine monks who were producing this wine in 1531. Created from 90% Mauzac (also known as Blanquette), 5% Chenin Blanc and 5% Chardonnay grapes grown in vineyards around the village of Limoux in the Languedoc , southwest France. The Saint-Hilaire is made in the Methode Champagne style, where the second fermentation occurs in the bottle, the wine is then aged an additional one year. The alcohol content is 12.5%.
The color is a light golden yellow. The nose is candy canes and limes. The bubbles are plentiful, but softer on your palate than Sparkling wines from the Champagne region. It tastes yeasty and toasty with green apple, that is both slightly sweet and a bit tart. Smooth and a little creamy, but not with the intensity you get from Champagne.
Here is a French Sparkling wine with tons of tradition and history, but since it is not from the Champagne region sells for under $15. The Saint-Hilaire Blanquette de Limoux Extra Dry is a very solid Sparkling wine.
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