CRÉMANT DE LIMOUX, Cuvée Eugénie, Maison Antech. France

Limoux is just south of Carcassonne, on the western edge of rugged Corbières district and just north of the Roussillon. It’s hot down there but altitude helps retain freshness in the grapes. The traditional style of the area (made even before Champagne) is called Blanquette de Limoux and relies on the local Mauzac grape. Crémant is slightly more ‘classical’ with Chardonnay giving a clean, cool, very elegant style.

Chardonnay with a little Chenin and Mauzac, fermented cool, followed by second fermentation in bottle (as for Champagne) with 18 months on the lees.

This, one of their top bottlings, is in homage to Eugénie Limouzy, great aunt of Georges and Rogers Antech. George’s daughter Francoise is now the 6th generation to be in charge of this family estate.

Light and lively but there’s also a hint of nutty richness. Unlike many sparklers, it doesn’t rely on sugar (there is only 8g/l in the final bottling) to give it charm.