Bigger Than Your Head recommends a small selection of sparkling wines to enjoy on the porch and at socially-distanced end of summer picnics, including Langlois-Chateau Crémant de Loire and Crémant de Loire Brut Rosé.
Writer Fredric Koeppel notes the Langlois-Chateau Crémant de Loire Rosé has “a beguiling pale onion skin hue and a shimmer of minute silver bubbles.” Adding, “this is a delightful yet delicate and elegant rosé that consists of 70 percent cabernet franc and 30 percent pinot noir, aged 18 months in bottle on the lees; the initial impression is of spare notes of strawberries and pears bolstered by limestone and flint minerality; a few moments in the glass bring out hints of apple skin, almond blossom and lime peel; at the core lurks a touch of red currant and lilac, every element etched by firm acidity and limestone minerality.”
As for the Langlois-Chateau Crémant de Loire Brut, he shares background on the grape varieties and its three years aging on the lees before noting that the wine’s color “is pale gold, enlivened by a exhilarating, foaming tide of tiny bubbles.” Being quite direct, he adds, “this one is about as spare, chiseled and elegant as sparkling wine gets; smoke and steel are wreathed with glimmers of spiced pear and roasted lemon, acacia, heather and sea-salt; there’s real heft in the mid-palate, though the overall effect through the finish is of something glancing, fleet and fine-honed; it practically glitters in the glass.” Read the rest of this story HERE.
Related Wines
Langlois
Langlois Brut Rosé NV
Cremant de Loire
Langlois Brut Rosé is a refined Crémant de Loire crafted from a blend of Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir. The wine undergoes a meticulous process, with only the first pressed juice used and 18 months of aging on the lees to maintain its freshness and vibrant color. A brief 12-15 hour skin contact gives it its delicate pale pink hue with copper highlights. On the palate, it is fresh, generous, and fruity, with appealing notes of vineyard peach and an airy elegance. Its long finish leaves a lasting impression, showcasing Langlois' commitment to terroir since 1885.
Related Producers
Langlois
Loire Valley, France
Langlois owns and manages 175 acres of the best AOC vineyards in the Loire Valley. Their Crémants are produced with standards far beyond the appellation requirements and even beyond Champagne AOC standards. They have an intensely terroir-focused approach of drawing the best characteristics from six distinct vineyards areas and soil types. The result is Méthode Champenoise wines of incredible finesse, further elevated by the expertise of the Bollinger Groupe, who acquired the estate in 1973 (their very first investment outside of Champagne).
