Winemaker Notes
Founded in 1996 in the small village of Marseillette, east of Carcassonne, Abbotts & Delaunay began as the vision of Nerida Abbott. In 2005, Laurent Delaunay acquired the estate, bringing with him five generations of Burgundian négociant heritage. A long-time advocate for the Languedoc’s potential, Laurent has led several notable projects across the region. The vineyards benefit from a unique landscape stretching from the Pyrenees to the Mediterranean, with diverse soils—sandstone, marl, limestone, and schist—that contribute to the wines’ distinctive character and strong sense of place.
Today, winemaking is led by Laurent’s daughter, Jeanne Delaunay, whose experience includes Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Thibault Liger-Belair, and Coldstream Hills in Australia. Under her direction, the winery focuses on estate-grown fruit while partnering with growers throughout the region, always emphasizing terroir. Guided by a Burgundian philosophy, Jeanne prioritizes balance, elegance, and purity, ensuring that winemaking enhances rather than masks the natural expression of the land.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
Recognized for its concentrated and sultry reds made predominantly of Carignan, Grenache and Syrah, this western Languedoc appellation is also famous for the charming and delicate fortified Vin Doux Naturel called Muscat de St. Jean de Minervois. The dry rosé and white wines of Minervois are also worth seeking out.