High land prices in Burgundy force producers to look to Languedoc to grow Burgundian varietals
The Languedoc will become one of the main growing regions for Burgundian varietals in the coming years, and one that is increasingly attracting investment from Burgundy growers.
This is according to winemaker Laurent Delaunay of Abbots and Delauney, who said that the Limoux region was proving increasingly popular as an “excellent terroir for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay”.
“As land prices in Burgundy have reached astronomical levels, producers are, of course, searching for new oportunites in regions like Oregon, and closer to home, Beajolais," Delaunay told Harpers at an event in London to celebrate the best of the Barossa Valley and Languedoc winemaking.
Limoux was also attracting attention from Burgundy houses, as the higher altittidue and cooler vineyards are some of the most well suited in the Langedoc for growing Burgundian varieties. Burgundian producer Albert Bichot, for one, has recently invested in the Limoux region.
Already well known for the production of sparkling wine styles, Delaunay’s single vineyard Pinot Noir Solaire, based on Limoux grapes has been proclaimed as “demonstrating the remarkeable potential of the terroir for Burgundy imitations,” according to wine writer Charles Metcalfe. “A wine that could so easily be mistaken blind for a top premier cru Volnay,” he said.