2013 Domaine de l'Horizon Vin de Pays des Côtes Catalanes Esprit de l'Horizon Blanc, 12-bottle Lot

Domaine de l’Horizon is in Calce, at the foot of the Pyrenees near the French border with Spain. It was founded in 2006 by Thomas Teibert, a German-born winemaker who learned his craft in Alto Adige, Italy, having also worked in wine sales and consulting in Austria and France. His 34 acres are planted to indigenous grape varieties including Muscat Petit Grain, Macabeo, Carignan Noir, Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris, Grenache Noir and Syrah. Wine Advocate has complimented Teibert for “fascinatingly distinctive wines even against the background of a place (Roussillon, and more specifically Calce) known for individualistic traits.”

Languedoc-Roussillon is very large wine-producing region in south and southwestern France extending along the Mediterranean coast from northern Spain to the Rhone Valley. It includes more than 800,000 vineyard acres and numerous appellations, nearly all created since the mid-20th century. Languedoc-Roussillon produces one-third of all the wine made in France and it long had a reputation for quantity over quality. In the last few decades, however, outside investors and some long-time local producers have greatly improved vineyard practices and winemaking. The result is that Languedoc-Roussillon is now home to many entrepreneurially-minded producers highly focused on quality, and it enjoys a buzz among wine buyers looking for well-crafted, robust wines offered at excellent values. The most successfully grown red grapes are the traditional Rhone varietals of Grenache, Mourvedre and Syrah, though Carignan and Cinsault are also planted. The intense sun and dry weather makes it tougher to grow white grapes, though Chardonnay and some other white grapes are often successful. Chardonnay is used for the popular sparkling wine Crémant de Limoux, a Languedoc-Roussillon appellation created in 1990.