2020 Domaine de Baronarques Blanc Limoux 750 ml

The 2020 Domaine de Baronarques Blanc is a succulent Chardonnay that—for its price—gives Burgundy a run for its money. That’s why it’s a wine that both the Prince of Monaco and Restaurant Jean-Georges have been proud to pour. Jeb Dunnuck called it a “seriously good white” in his 94-point review. 

When Thomas Jefferson imported bottles for his personal cellar in Monticello, on one invoice he ordered 12 cases of Burgundy’s famed Le Montrachet and 12 cases of Limoux Blanc—and they commanded exactly the same price! In fact, when Jefferson passed away and his cellar was inventoried, one of the few wines remaining was none other than Limoux Blanc.

Limoux enjoys a unique position in the normally roasting Languedoc: It’s just 60 miles from the Mediterranean and 240 miles from the Atlantic, so it’s subject to the moderating effects of both bodies of water. It’s also perched at around 1,000 feet of elevation, where the cool-climate property gets tons of sunshine. Add in the balanced amount of rainfall the area receives and you’ve got the formula for vineyard land that could rival Burgundy.  

Once the Rothschild family took control of the estate in 1998, they assembled an A-team from Mouton and Opus One and dedicated five years to bringing the estate up to the family’s level of excellence. They also installed a new state-of-the-art cellar, and in 2003, Baronarques made the initial wine of this new era. Their first vintage of Chardonnay was in 2009, and it was stellar from the beginning. See for yourself the heights Baronarques has attained in this reborn and fascinating appellation!