Aimery Grand Cuvée 1531 Crémant De Limoux

Molly Amoli Shinhat reviewed this wine as follows:

A crémant de Limoux (not champagne, but made using the same method), this is a blend of white grapes, dominated by 55% Chardonnay, 35% Chenin, with 10% Mauzac.

It's a delicate pale goldish lemon wine. It gives light aromas of peach, brioche, grapefruit, acacia, green apple, and lemon. On the palate, it rises to medium plus acidity, with lemon rind, peach, tart apple, and grapefruit, delivered in a dry, medium body, 12.5% a.b.v. wine with a delicate mousse. That tart apple is the Mauzac, so specific to this sparkler.

This Grand Cuvée 1531 has an august history and a "Dom" connection. It was also created by Benedictine monks, but in the Middle Ages in the Abbey of Saint-Hilaire in the Languedoc, several hours' drive south of the abbey where Dom Perignon lived and experimented with wine blending.

Over a 150 years before Dom Perignon, sparkling wine was being made in Saint-Hilaire, Limoux, France. "Blanquette" was the first French sparkling wine, not champagne.

Crémant de Limoux is Blanquette's cousin. This wine stands in direct descent from that first French sparkling wine.

Pairs gloriously with most food.

Matt Steeves rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

Pale gold, with aromas of baked apple, flint, and biscuit. This Cremant de Limoux comes from the Loire Valley in France, and is made from Chardonnay, Mauzac, and Chenin Blanc. Dry and lively, its creamy textured mouse finishes with green apple and subtle tannins adding further complexity to the texture. A great base for sparkling cocktails like the Polish 75 or the ever popular Mimosa with Mother’s Day brunch. Tasted May 2018. 89 points. Matt Steeves - www.quercusvino.ca

Jon Steeves rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

Wonderful bone dry bubbly. Declared 12.5% ABV. Brilliant pale straw. A self proclaimed oldest Brut in the world is declared on the label. 18 months on lees has imparted this beautiful crisp cremant with Apple brioche notes and zesty citrus. Tasted Feb 2017. Rated 91/100. BespokeTastings.ca

Emilie Ryan rated this wine as 85/100 with the following review:

A sparkling wine that paired surprisingly well with…
Presentation: Classic, regal appearance
Appearance: Clear, pale intensity, lemon coloured
Nose: Clean, light nose, with notes of old cheddar and blue cheese, as well as lemon peel, grapefruit, and minerals
Taste: Dry, light body, medium acidity, low tannins, dominant lemon and grapefruit rind and minerals. The multitude of tiny bubbles proved pleasant on the tongue.
Finish: Medium finish with lingering herbaceous notes
Overall impression: A great sparkling option. It paired surprisingly well with the grilled steak, fries, and grilled red onions, as well as dark chocolate. It also proved to be an outstanding palate cleanser.
Value: 3.5/5

Nick Onischuk rated this wine as 88/100 with the following review:

The Aimery Grand Cuvee 1531 Cremant De Limoux is a refreshing and clean sparkling wine. Aromas and flavours of apple, pear and honey. Tasted October 2016 (88/100)

Monique Sosa rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

The nose boasts inviting floral notes, while the palate speaks fluent acidity! This is a light crisp extra-brut (bone-dry) bubbly from Southern France. In fact, Crément de Limoux is the birthplace of traditional method sparkling wine, since 1531.
Flavours include crisp grapefruit, lemon and mineral notes. Tasted Oct 2016. @sommsosa | bespoketastings.ca

Sylvain Segard rated this wine as 88/100 with the following review:

Pale straw. Medium sized bubbles. Fresh minerality, grapefruit, pear and baked bread. Dry, crisp medium body. High, lasting acidity.

Cherie Cole rated this wine as 86/100 with the following review:

Toast, apple and honey on the nose and palate. Crisp and refreshing. Tasted Oct 02, 2016.

Courtney Flood rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Very interesting! White grapefruit and firm peach, a touch of honey and savoury miso. Bubbles are tight and lively.

Lori Kilmartin WSET3 rated this wine as 86/100 with the following review:

Lots of fine bubbles! Yeast and toast on the nose. Dry, mouth watering and lots of mineral. Not a lot of fruit with a medium finish.

Alex & Priya rated this wine as 85/100 with the following review:

Priya: Yes, I'm that woman who is not a fan of champagne or wines done in a champagne style. I know, shame on me! It's just that all those bubbles get in the way of me actually tasting the wine, like foam on a fancy coffee masking the actual coffee. This smells nice like cotton candy, but all I taste is bubbles, bubbles, bubbles. How can I rate that? 82pts

Alex: Stony, pear drops and sour cream nose, predominantly Chardonnay but spiced with other, more unique white grapes of Southwest France for sure. fine-textured mousse, with tangy pear drops and red apple. Nice creamy-leesy mouthfeel. Good stuff. 88pts

Jacky Blisson rated this wine as 80/100 with the following review:

Pale straw. Bright grapey, floral nose. Somewhat aggressive, frothy bubbles, a sour note on the palate and a fairly short finish.