Muscadet, Pays Nantais, Loire Valley 🇫🇷

Pays Nantais is where the Loire river meets the Atlantic. Maritime climate, rainfall throughout the year which limits the selection of grape varieties that can be grown. Schist and granite soils.

Muscadet is the star of the show in this part of the Loire Valley. Made from Melon de Bourgogne - a grape variety that can be a bit little neutral, so winemakers like to use lees contact (and sometimes a little skin contact) to increase complexity and texture.

Wine style; light to med body, delicate flavours of apple, pepper, fennel, salinity, autolysis characters with a maximum alcohol of 12% and often bottled with good levels of natural dissolved CO2 which provides a light spritzig sensation.

The four major AOC Muscadet appellations are:
1. Muscadet - an area covering most of the Pays Nantais region. Entry level Muscadet made with the least viticultural and winemaking restrictions. Generally, a lighter, crisp, style.
2. Muscadet Sèvre et Maine - named after the 2 rivers that meet to the SE of Nantes. This appellation is authorised to use the "sur lie" (on lees) labelling. The style here has more body and ageing potential.
3. Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu - this area lies to the West of Sèvre et Maine. An early ripening area with pronounced floral aromas. The sur lie labelling is also permitted here.
4. Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire - this is in the NE of the Pays Nantais. You can find fuller bodied styles here, sometimes with flintyness. The sur lie labelling is also permitted here.

The most sought after Muscadets are cru Muscadet. There are 7 specific sites (with more on the way) that have unique terroir to produce exceptional Muscadet. These are made with the most stringent viticultural and winemaking controls, for example, wines must be aged on lees for 18 to 24 months.

Wines tasted:
1. Domaine de Belle-Vue (Jerome Bretaudeau)
2019 Granite - Clos des Perrieres
Muscadet AOC

2. Vincent Caillé
2019 Mouton Noir
Muscadet Sèvre et Maine AOC

3. Domaine de la Pepiere
2017 Château-Thébaud
Muscadet Sèvre et Maine AOC

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