Friday Sips
FRIDAY SIPS
Muscadet Mania
Today August 9 from 1:30 - 6:30
Muscadet Mania
Today August 9 from 1:30 - 6:30
Located in the Loire Valley just outside the city of Nantes, Muscadet is a region whose dry wines have absolutely nothing to do with the Muscat grape.
Actually made from the Melon de Bourgogne grape, these sizzling-dry wines express their unique soils impeccably and are some of the greatest vehicles to pair with seafood.
Drop by today to get educated on one of France’s most versatile white wines from four apex producers
Actually made from the Melon de Bourgogne grape, these sizzling-dry wines express their unique soils impeccably and are some of the greatest vehicles to pair with seafood.
Drop by today to get educated on one of France’s most versatile white wines from four apex producers
2018 Metaireau Muscadet
Sevre et Maine 'Petit Mouton'
$16.99 btl./$203.88 case
Sevre et Maine 'Petit Mouton'
$16.99 btl./$203.88 case
We can never get enough good Muscadet. Louis Metaireau has been one of the long-time leaders of this region and the man who is responsible for so much of Muscadet's current success. An outspoken proponent of the appellation, his effusive energy led to the formation of the "Arts et Vignerons" group, which strives for quality rather than quantity.
With each vintage that we taste of this electric white wine, we are reminded of how much it has to offer and how impressive a great bottle of French white can truly be. The magic is in the soil, which is comprised of gneiss, granite and amphibolite rock. The 2018 Petit Mouton cuvee is from 35 year old vines and possesses confidently intense aromas of mineral, oyster shell, lemon and perfumed, powdery rock that fill the glass of this tightly wound white. It does not get much fresher than this with bracing acidity in the mouth and tons of lemon and lime citrus fruits, mineral, saline and chalk. The ultimate seafood wine…drink it with oysters, mussels, crab, halibut, etc., etc.
With each vintage that we taste of this electric white wine, we are reminded of how much it has to offer and how impressive a great bottle of French white can truly be. The magic is in the soil, which is comprised of gneiss, granite and amphibolite rock. The 2018 Petit Mouton cuvee is from 35 year old vines and possesses confidently intense aromas of mineral, oyster shell, lemon and perfumed, powdery rock that fill the glass of this tightly wound white. It does not get much fresher than this with bracing acidity in the mouth and tons of lemon and lime citrus fruits, mineral, saline and chalk. The ultimate seafood wine…drink it with oysters, mussels, crab, halibut, etc., etc.
2018 Pepiere Muscadet
Sevre et Maine 'La Pepie'
$13.99 btl./$167.88 case
Sevre et Maine 'La Pepie'
$13.99 btl./$167.88 case
One of the real masters in Muscadet, is Domaine de la Pepière and with each vintage that we taste of Marc Ollivier, Gwenaelle Croix and Remi Branger’s lovely oyster wine, we are reminded of how much it has to offer and how impressive a great bottle of French white can truly be. The magic is in the soil, with a deep top soil of clay and silica over a brittle granite subsoil, which ensures excellent drainage in wet years and better moisture retention in dry summers.
Amazingly, these wines, especially on the upper tier, are quite sought after. La Pepie is the estate’s entry cuvee. Flinty and steely with oyster shell and lemon-grass scents lead into a beautifully focused and surprisingly intense texture that is bracing, vibrant and very, very dry.
Amazingly, these wines, especially on the upper tier, are quite sought after. La Pepie is the estate’s entry cuvee. Flinty and steely with oyster shell and lemon-grass scents lead into a beautifully focused and surprisingly intense texture that is bracing, vibrant and very, very dry.
2016 Luneau-Papin Muscadet
Sevre et Maine 'Clos des Allees'
$17.99 btl./$215.88 case
Sevre et Maine 'Clos des Allees'
$17.99 btl./$215.88 case
Prohibitionists and puritans would probably disagree with us and run straight to the Legion of Decency to complain, but sensuality and hedonism are good things. Why do I mention this? Most likely due to the fact that having worked with, tasted and consumed this French-tickler of a Muscadet for almost twenty years, I continually conjure up dreams of the many explicit food pairings that would shack up so well with this magical Muscadet. Oysters are certainly a good call, but the wine’s depth and complexity recently has been whispering dirty thoughts of beurre blanc with Petralé Sole into my ears.
Luneau-Papin is one of the epic producers of the Sevre et Maine region and the Clos des Allees cuvee is a solely owned, monopole vineyard that was planted in 1970. The soil here is more prominent schist than the previous offerings as well as having ancient river rocks as well. The minerals in the soil chaperone the wine and add so much to the fruit. Mind-blowing Muscadet and one of the finest in the region. Minerally aromas play off chamomile, classic Muscadet peatiness, lemongrass and honey. Ample palate coverage yet at the same time, is brilliantly pure and finesseful. Lots of spine and focus throughout which heads into a glorious finish packed with verve, lace and subliminal messages that say that this is virtuoso stuff that you MUST experience!
Luneau-Papin is one of the epic producers of the Sevre et Maine region and the Clos des Allees cuvee is a solely owned, monopole vineyard that was planted in 1970. The soil here is more prominent schist than the previous offerings as well as having ancient river rocks as well. The minerals in the soil chaperone the wine and add so much to the fruit. Mind-blowing Muscadet and one of the finest in the region. Minerally aromas play off chamomile, classic Muscadet peatiness, lemongrass and honey. Ample palate coverage yet at the same time, is brilliantly pure and finesseful. Lots of spine and focus throughout which heads into a glorious finish packed with verve, lace and subliminal messages that say that this is virtuoso stuff that you MUST experience!
2012 Haut-Bourg Muscadet
Cotes-de-Grandlieu 'Origines'
$23.99 btl./$287.88 case
Cotes-de-Grandlieu 'Origines'
$23.99 btl./$287.88 case
Now we move on to something a bit more clever. Four regions make up the Pays Nantais and Muscadet. Sevre et Maine is its most famous but located southwest of the city of Nantes is the region of Cotes-de-Grandlieu and its rather unique terroir. Influenced by the large Lake of Granlieu as well as the Loire River and Atlantic Ocean, these wines are starting to be uncovered and with younger vignerons, we are sure to see more and more excellent wines from this area.
The Origines is one of the estate’s top cuvees and somewhat evokes aspects of a combination of a great Savennieres, Chablis but never leaves its Muscadet roots. From 75-year-old vine (yes, 2012 is the current release) sits on its lees for five years before bottling. This estate’s top cuvée and comes from a combination of mica-schist (think Cote-Rotie!), granite and sandy soils bring a level of intensity that boggles the mind. Complex aromatics of lemongrass, orange creamsickle, chamomile and gentle spice seamlessly set off the non-stop mineral intensity. The palate is fully fleshed out with zesty spice and focused mineral on the long, fresh, clean and pillowy finish that seems to go on and on and further. Drinking beautifully right now at age nine, this Muscadet will have no problem with going for another decade. Forget raw shellfish, this one is quite complex and pairs well with rich seafood preps such as salmon or halibut in a beurre blanc or a rich scallop dish finished with shaved black truffles.
The Origines is one of the estate’s top cuvees and somewhat evokes aspects of a combination of a great Savennieres, Chablis but never leaves its Muscadet roots. From 75-year-old vine (yes, 2012 is the current release) sits on its lees for five years before bottling. This estate’s top cuvée and comes from a combination of mica-schist (think Cote-Rotie!), granite and sandy soils bring a level of intensity that boggles the mind. Complex aromatics of lemongrass, orange creamsickle, chamomile and gentle spice seamlessly set off the non-stop mineral intensity. The palate is fully fleshed out with zesty spice and focused mineral on the long, fresh, clean and pillowy finish that seems to go on and on and further. Drinking beautifully right now at age nine, this Muscadet will have no problem with going for another decade. Forget raw shellfish, this one is quite complex and pairs well with rich seafood preps such as salmon or halibut in a beurre blanc or a rich scallop dish finished with shaved black truffles.
