Mauzac, Languedoc-Rousillon, France 

A gentle, free-thinking and zero-zero pet-nat with historic roots! Jean-Louis Pinto has operated his negociant (he purchases fruit rather than farming it) project since 2010. Based near Limoux, he sources organic and biodynamically tended grapes from unique plots, while working out of a small cellar beneath his family home. There is no set style applied year-to-year, but you are guaranteed to be surprised, delighted & (like we are) infatuated vintage after vintage. FUN FACT! Before there was Champagne there was “Blanquette Méthode Ancestrale” (also called “Blanquette de Limoux”), a bubbly wine made in this region out of mauzac grapes that was first recorded being produced by monks in 1531! The grapes here were sourced from over 80-year-old mauzac vines grown high up on the only limestone portion of this mountainside vineyard, overlooking a valley in Campagne-sur-Aude, Limoux. The grapes were macerated for six days and bottled before fermentation was complete to trap enlivening C02, then aged for 14 months on lees before disgorging (removal of lees/sediment). Fine, filigree nose of minerals and pear blossoms, apple crisp topped with tart pear-sauce, chalky sweethearts, leesy weight, grey rocks & tearing into a packet of Euro white gummies. Pour alongside breakfast buffets with anything from caviar topped eggs to syrup-soaked flapjacks.