Vines in "Les Gras Moutons"

2022 Domaine de la Pépière "Les Gras Moutons" and, of course, More Muscadet!

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The Domaine de la Pépière Muscadet "Les Gras Moutons" is one of the most versatile and crowd-pleasing of all Muscadet! It's especially delicious in the 2022 vintage as the slightly lower acidity makes it immediately ready to drink. It's a glass full of Muscadet pleasure that will accompany just about anything - stock up!

"Les Gras Moutons" is a great parcel on gneiss, in layers that permit a deep penetration by the vines, with sandy clay and amphibolite stones. The vines are at the top of a hill and on the south facing slope overlooking the Maine. (The name, by the way, does not refer to fat sheep, despite their presence on the label, but rather in local dialect, to the hilltop vineyard site.) This terroir produces lovely, classic Muscadet to drink young or after short-term cellaring. The 2022 shows a bright very pale gold color. The nose is subtle but complex with a lovely melange of peach, pear, melon, lemon verbena, dried herbs and wet stone. Tha palate is marked by a nice bitter minerality underlying white fruits and citrus flavors. The finish is pure, clean and refreshing, perfectly balanced at 12% alcohol. This is a lovely Muscadet to enjoy with shellfish, fish and chips, fish in sauce and white meats over the next 3 to 5 years. Try to save a few - we're drinking the last of our 2018s which are fantastic...!

And while we're on the subject...

Fred Lallier at Domaine Bregeon in Gorges has converted this great estate to organic farming, honoring the distinctive gabbro terroir. This full-bodied and very complex 2022 Muscadet is drinking beautifully now - it will benefit from decanting or a few years in the cellar.

Luneau-Papin map of terroir showing "Excelsior" and "Terre de Pierre"

Domaine Luneau-Papin

The Luneau-Papin "Excelsior" is one of the most elegant and age-worthy Muscadet - made from vines planted in 1936 in the  village of La Chapelle-Heulin, massale selection (no clones). Mother rock of schist and micaschist in «La Plécisière».  Fermentation and maturation on the lees in underground glass lined vats for twenty months. The 2020 shows subtle, complex aromas of citrus, lime-flower, melon, pear, mint, almond and stone.  The palate is silky, crystalline and dense - just a beautiful wine.

Another of our favorite Muscadet is the Luneau-Papin "Cuvée Terre de Pierre" A.O.P Muscadet Sèvre & Maine La Butte de la Roche. First made in 2008 on this  great Nantais terroir made up of peridotite on a steep hill of weathered serpentinite. This parcel has two aspects – one facing the rising sun the other the setting sun – and an incredible viewpoint with views from the western slope over the Marais de Goulaine and the city of Nantes. This is always one of the most saline and vibrant Muscadets and it ages beautifully for ten to fifteen years.

All wines discount 10% on a case or mixed case. Please allow unti Wenesday 8/23 for pick-up or shipping.

 

Bregeon, Michel 2022 Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie

Fred Lallier is now in charge at Domaine Bregeon and is doing great work at this important estate - one of the leaders in the return to quality in Muscadet. Certified organic, the 2022 Muscadet is from average 40 year-old vines in Gabbro terroirs in and around Gorges - it shows distinctive aromas associated with this terroir - pear, stone, petrol, anise and mushroom, with lovely white fruits in this ripe vintage with hints of lemon confit and wet stone. The palate is round and ripe, framed in firm acidity and mineral flavors, with stone fruits, earth, almond, anise and citrus that continue in the long finish. This is a lovely Muscadet in a riper style that is quite delicious now and should open up nicely over the next five years. Please decant or open an hour in advance.  David Lillie

  • white
  • 14 in stock
  • $23.99

  • Organic

Luneau-Papin 2020 Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Excelsior

Made only in exceptional vintages, the Luneau-Papin "Excelsior - Clos des Noelles" is one of my favorite Muscadets, usually a bit rounder than the granite-soil "L D'Or" but always aromatically complex and with great intensity and length.   The massale-selection vines were planted in 1936 on a terroir of "micaschistes a deux micas," (lieu-dit "La Plecisiere") exposed full south. The grapes are hand-harvested and undergo a slow wild yeast fermentation with 20 months of aging on the lees. The 2020 shows subtle, complex aromas of citrus, lime-flower, melon, pear, mint, almond and stone.  The palate is silky, crystalline and dense, a bit softer than the 2018, with white fruits, almond, smoke and wet stone with excellent length of pear, minerals and firm acidity.  Please decant if drinking now, serve with any elegant seafood dish. Cellar five to fifteen years and serve with richer fish dishes, white meats, rabbit. Beautiful wine!

  • white
  • 24 in stock
  • $41.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic

Luneau-Papin 2020 Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Terre de Pierre

This fascinating wine is from a parcel of 50 year-old vines on La Butte de la Roche,  a dramatic dome of igneous rock with quartz stones and serpentine minerals overlooking the marshes of Goulaine. Pierre-Marie Luneau is in charge here and is doing great organic /biodynamic vineyard work, reclaiming this wonderful site with vines planted in 1974. The serpentine rock creates a very poor soil, giving wines that are normally somewhat austere and marked by intense minerality.  The 2020 "Terre de Pierre" is bright and crystalline with citrus aromas and hints of stone and dried herbs. The palate is elegant and crisp with firm saline acidity, with pear, almond and citrus flavors, and the terroir kicks in nicely with intense mineral notes and firm acidity that tingles the palate. The finish is long and scintillating with subtle white fruits and minerals. Serve this lovely Muscadet now with shellfish, cod and sole, seared scallops, or cellar for 10 to 15 years.  David Lillie

  • white
  • 9 in stock
  • $26.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic
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Pépière 2022 Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Les Gras Moutons

Les Gras Moutons is a great parcel on gneiss, in layers that permit a deep penetration by the vines, with sandy clay and amphibolite stones. The vines are at the top of a hill and on the south facing slope overlooking the Maine. (The name, by the way, does not refer to fat sheep, despite their presence on the label, but rather in local dialect, to the hilltop vineyard site.) This terroir produces lovely, classic Muscadet to drink young or after short-term cellaring of 5 to 8 years. The 2022 shows a bright very pale gold color. The nose is subtle but complex with a lovely melange of peach, pear, melon, lemon verbena, dried herbs and wet stone. Tha palate is marked by a nice bitter minerality underlying white fruits and citrus flavors. The finish is pure, clean and refreshing, perfectly balanced at 12% alcohol. This is a lovely Muscadet to enjoy with shellfish, fish and chips, fish in sauce and white meats over the next 3 to 5 years. Try to save a few - we're drinking the last of our 2018s which are fantastic...! David Lillie

  • Out of Stock
  • white
  • 0 in stock
  • $22.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic