Crémant Extra-Brut De Limoux Delafont 2013

It's well known the French were great pioneers of "human-carrying flight technology". However, it's less well known that the first hot air balloon, launched in 1783, carried a sheep, a duck and a rooster. And even less well known that while others experimented with hot air, Samuel Delafont investigated CO₂ gas.

He was convinced the way to reach the sky was to direct bubbles from fermented grape juice into a silk balloon, thereby inflating it enough to lift from the ground. He studied tirelessly, his workshop infused with scents of flowers and citrus, producing effervescing vats brimming with energy and finesse. But it just wouldn't quite work. Happily, taking a generous draught of the liquid had the surrogate effect of lifting the spirit and letting the mind soar. His work wasn't wasted after all!

Maison S. Delafont is a family owned winery and was established in 2010 by Samuel Delafont. Prior to founding the winery, Samuel spent 10 years as a wine consultant but decided to set up his own winery to feature the best crus of Languedoc as an Artisan Negociant. The Cremant Extra-Brut De Limoux Delafont was amongst the first cuvees released by the winery. All of their wines are made with the aim of creating a balance between finesse, generosity and freshness whilst continuing to show the identity of the terroir.

Specialising in crus from the vineyards of Languedoc, Maison S. Delafont selects and assembles small volumes of newly fermented wines from some of the appellation's best Cheateaux and Domaines. All of the growers that they work with employ biodynamic, organic or sustainable methods in the growth of their vines.

Samuel Delafont had grown a fascination with the wine world by the age of 21. In January 2000, four years later, he created an export agency named Vinipartner to advise winegrowers from the South of France on how to develop and sell their individual ranges of wines. Having been in the business for many years, Samuel developed an interest to be more involved in the production of the wine, opening the winery in 2010.