From: Limoux, Languedoc, France
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Taste: Taste: The Domaine Altugnac Pinot Noir is 100% Pinot Noir from almost all hand-harvestd fruit. The wine is fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks to preserve the freshness and varietal character of the wine. Even though the wines come from a warm region, Jean-Luc and Chrisitian do an exceptional job of retaining acidity, tension and vibrancy in this Pinot. Light ruby in color with fresh red berry fruit flavors, well-integrated spice (nutmeg and cinnamon) notes, a hint of mocha, soft and silky tannins all wrapped up in a mineral core that lead to a lifted finish, this Languedoc wine will make you rethink Pinot from this part of France. If you like Pinot Noir from Chitry (north end of Burgundy) or light-bodied Willamette Valley Pinot’s, you’ll be extremely happy with this wine and the 2021 vintage.
Pairing: Pair with meaty fish such as tuna or swordfish, poultry such as turkey, goose, or duck, a pumpkin soup, stuffed peppers, or a beetroot gazpacho. One of our favorite pairings is the classic Jambon Beurre sandwich. It’s so simple to make that it doesn’t require a recipe.
But it does require that you get the best ingredients (preferably an epic ficelle, some demi-sel butter, and authentic Jambon de Paris) you can find! If you can’t find those exact ingredients, look for a good-quality baguette, European-style butter, and top-notch ham. We’re purists when it comes to this sandwich, however, it must be said that you will find (and can make your own) variations out there. Some may be stuffed with cornichons, some with a swipe of Dijon mustard, and others with slices of Gruyere cheese. While they are by no means classic, they too are delicious!
The top four things to know:
1. Jean-Luc Terrier and Christian Collovray, co-owners of Domaine des Deux Roches (aka Bourcier-Martinot), branched out beyond the Mâcon to Limoux in the southwestern part of the Languedoc in 1997. Today they are joined by their sons Julien Collovray and Pierre-Alexis Terrier.
2. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grow at 500 meters in elevation on shallow, limestone-centric soils.
3. As a nod to this high altitude terrain, in 2020 the domaine changed its name to Altugnac, which was also the historic name of the village of Antugnac in the 14th century.
4. The Limoux terroirs are pleasantly revealed under the passionate management of the Collovray & Terrier families. The wines are fresh, charming, and true to their varietal character while consistently lacking the heaviness sometimes found in warm climate wines.
