Jean-Louis Denois

Limoux & Haut Vallée de l'Aude, Languedoc

Nestled in the foothills of the Pyrenees in Southwest France is the coolest climate and highest elevation appellation in the Languedoc: Limoux. There, outside the lofty Medieval village of Roquetaillade, lives Limoux's most famous vigneron, Jean-Louis Denois, the gentleman responsible for bringing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir to this ideal terroir in the 80’s. His eponymous domaine, founded after he sold his first Limoux project Domaine de l’Aigle to Gerard Bertrand twenty years back, includes 15 hectares of vines at 400-500 meters above sea level on limestone and clay soils.

Though well known today, Denois started out as a humble grape-grower and winemaker, growing up in the sixth generation of a little known Champenois family in Cumières premier cru. When Denois came of age, he went to study oenology in Beaune, as one does, and then traveled through much of the new world’s most exciting vineyards, working in California, Australia, New Zealand, and finally in South Africa where he spent many years helping develop the Cap Classique bubbles (and Jean-Louis is still collaborating with producers in South Africa on this front). 

In 1988, Denois returned home to France and purchased his first Pinot Noir vineyard in the then little known sub-region of Limoux deep in the Languedoc. A Chardonnay plot followed in 1989. Denois recognized Limoux for what it could be. With its lofty elevation and limestone and clay soils, this undervalued terroir could grow truly exceptional sparkling wine. In 1991, this seasoned innovator planted the first Champanois clones of Pinot Noir in Limoux: a softer skinned relative of an already thin-skinned variety. 

Denois quickly rose to prominence in France for offering incredible bubbles at incredible prices. His crémants used the finest techniques and clones of Champagne without the same price tag, earning the regard of leading Champagne experts like Jancis Robinson who deemed the wines “a little fruitier, more opulent, and less obviously lees-aged than the best champagnes but infinitely better than cheap champagne” by the turn of the millennium. The wines have only continued on their path to terroir singularity and deliciousness over these last twenty years. 

In the meantime, Denois has also brought to bear his training around the world on Burgundian styled Chardonnay and Pinot still wines and elegant renditions of international Bordeaux varieties. These still wines have developed their own followings and deliver incredible value over Bordeaux and Burgundy without any shortcuts.

J.L. Denois is doing everything we hold dear at Vino al Vino — beautiful farming, minimal intervention, classical stylings, and fearless innovation in the vineyards. Most importantly, we love drinking these wines.