Muscadet PDO

Muscadet is the only wine in the world made from the melon de Bourgogne varietal, a cross between pinot noir and the gouais blanc varietal, which has now disappeared. The grape was grown in the Nantes region as early as the first century B.C. The wine, which was used during religious ceremonies, became more popular with the rise of Christianity. The name "muscadet" was used as early as 1635, but it wasn't until the phylloxera epidemic that the industry restructured itself and the wine's quality started to improve. In fact, muscadet is one of the oldest French designations and was established in 1937. Some muscadets are aged on the lees, which means they are allowed to rest with the yeast that transforms sugar into alcohol for 6-24 months. Some wines are even aged for up to 48 months. This process gives the wine its complexity, body, broad range of aromas, and especially its aptitude as it ages. Because the muscadet terroir is so diverse due to its wide range of soil types and the varying effect of the ocean, the fact that the wine can be aged on the lees or not, and the varying length of the growing period, winemakers can create an extensive palette of aromas.

This variety is the reason behind the emergence of localized vintages. These top-shelf muscadets encapsulate the excellence of their specific terroir. Produced from select plots and regulated by a strict list of requirements (limited yield, vines that are at least six years old, grapes harvested at peak maturity, and wine that is aged on the lees for at least 18 to 24 months), these localized vintages are structured, elegant, complex, and can be stored for long periods of time. They are on par with the most prestigious white wines available and pair well with gourmet meals. There are currently ten of these wines: Clisson (powerful and generous), Gorges (a long finish and aged on the lees for 24-40 months), Le Pallet (creamy and decadent), Goulaine (balanced and elegant), Château-Thébaud (refined, grassy, and aged on the lees for 36-48 months), Mouzillon-Tillières (complex and tight), Monnières-Saint Fiacre (substantial and creamy in texture), La Haye-Fouassière (elegant and expressive), Vallet (rich and elegant), and Champtoceaux (silky and substantial).