The Blauer Limberger I bet is from a German source. At least I got it right that it was an experimental block. A lot of very smart and open forward thinking guys in Languedoc, which some call the “new world of Europe” so maybe my guesses weren’t so far off in a way.

Part of the reason that I found it so interesting was because Languedoc is a region that is doing a lot of experimentation and many of the smaller producers in areas outside the AOC names we know, struck me as being unsure of which direction they ought to head in terms of international markets.

To be a bit more precise, this is a research station near Cadabres, and AOC that is halfway between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean in both distance and varietals. From the AOC website:

“Cabardès is the only French appellation to associate 40% minimum of atlantic grape varieties (Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc, Cot and Fer Servadou) with 40% minimum of mediterranean grape varieties (Syrah and Grenache), completion of blends possible with 20% of Cot and Fer Servadou. This unique possibility is due to the position of the vineyard under an east – west transitional climate which naturally influences the local vegetation. The meeting of cool winds from the Aquitaine with the hot mediterranean sun, dream of any wine maker, enables complex wines to be made from the appellation’s large palette of grape varieties, blending being the key to the wines’ rich balance.”

Read more here: http://cabardes.free.fr/pages/en/syndicat.html

I wish I could find a link to the research center. Perhaps the folks at Languedoc Wines can help. It was on a trip sponsored by Sud de France that I was taken to this site.

Alas, no California Grand Cru gold stars to hand out. But Jeff did a sterling job and for that he gets a premier cru washington designation!

He writes that “it’s a test vineyard halfway between Limoux and the
appellation to the west of Limoux where they are playing with all sorts
of odd things.

Thought is was interesting for the juxtaposition of the varieties and
the geography. ”

Yes, limburger is Blaufrankisch but (pretty much) only in Austria. Thus it had to be elsewhere as several of you assumed. Anyway, Languedoc, not Washington!

Please send in a photo from your travels if you think you can stump us!

I acknowledge that Blauer Limberger is one official name for the grape, but this is what the Germans or Germanophiles call it. The Austrians universally in my experience call it Blaufrankisch. Germany would be my first choice, especially the Phalz, but the dry sandy soil and the lack of buildings leads me to guess elsewhere.

So one more wild guess. The Balkans, Romania/Bulgaria. Lots of German investment there in wine, just the place where an experimental block of these grapes would be planted.

I won’t revel the location until tomorrow in case others want to get in on the fun.