Do you know that moment when you pour a wine, smell it once, and immediately think: okay, these people know what they're doing? That's how we felt about Abbotts & Delaunay. And because we at Wijnhuis Cave don't keep secrets, we'd love to share the story behind this special winery with you.
I'll let you in on a secret... My favorite is the Viognier. Not only is it my favorite, but it's also our best-selling wine right now.
How an Anglo-French duo shook up the south of France
Abbotts & Delaunay sounds a bit like a law firm from a British detective series, but in reality, it's a winery that has been setting the Languedoc region ablaze for years. It all started when Englishwoman Barbara Abbotts decided in the 90s that she wasn't interested in mediocre wine. She wanted character, adventure, and a bit of rock-and-roll in her glass. Later, Laurent Delaunay joined, a French oenologist with such an impressive CV that we almost started salivating before we'd even ordered anything.
Together, they chose a simple yet rather ambitious philosophy: to make wine that purely expresses the character of the Languedoc, but with finesse. Not pompous. Not overly oaked. No fuss. Just wine that's right.
Their philosophy: less frills, more feeling
If you talk to Abbotts & Delaunay (figuratively, as the chance of us bumping into them in the middle of Delft is small), you'll notice that everything revolves around balance. They believe that good wine doesn't need prestige, but precision. No ego, but attention. This is reflected in three things:
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Micro-terroir nerdiness (but the fun kind)
They deviate from the 'all-in-one-tank' mentality. Instead, they seek out small, unique plots where grapes do exactly what they're supposed to. Each micro-terroir gets its own vinification. Yes, that's technical, but the result is simply delicious: layered, exciting, and never standard. -
French elegance meets English sobriety
Barbara's British pragmatism and Laurent's French finesse create a perfect combination: wines that are serious, but don't take themselves too seriously. A bit like us, actually. -
'Less is more', but with character
No thick, overripe Languedoc bomb. Nor a watery lightweight. Abbotts & Delaunay finds exactly that point where fruit, freshness, and soft structure high-five each other.
Why their wines are so good (according to us, and we are picky)
We first tasted their wines in our "Cave" – read: the storage space in Delft we affectionately call that, until the real shop is ready.
The wines have personality. No show-off behavior, but a style you immediately trust. Fruit that doesn't scream but smiles. Spiciness that doesn't dominate but whispers. And always a fine balance that makes you reach for a second glass faster than your phone.
That's exactly why we wanted Abbotts & Delaunay in our collection. They fit our vision: wines that are accessible, but never boring. The kind of bottles you take to a dinner party where someone is guaranteed to say, "Wow, what is this deliciousness?"
Want to taste for yourself?
If you're thinking now: yes, nice story, but how does it taste? Rightly so!
Curious how these wines taste? You'll find them, of course, in our collection at Wijnhuis Cave. Maybe there's even one chilling for you.
We ourselves have the following wines from Abbotts & Delaunay in our assortment:
