Pays Nantais > Muscadet
Muscadet
Appellation Muscadet Générale
This appellation is dedicated exclusively to the production of crisp white wine from the Melon de Bourgogne grape. Perhaps the most famous partner for oysters, the food-friendly wines complement a wide variety of cuisines.
Vineyard
Location: This large appellation is on the western-most edge of the Val de Loire vineyard, bordered by Brittany to the north, by the Mauges foothills and Vendée forest to the east and southeast, by the Breton marshes flood plain to the southwest and the Retz Atlantic coastline to the west.
Surface Area:
- 3,600 hectares / 8,895 acres
Soil: The soil is a varied structure of igneous and metamorphic rock from the Massif Armoricain, mainly made up of gneiss, mica schist, and smaller quantities of greenstone and granite.
Climate: The entire area benefits from a temperate oceanic climate with even rainfall throughout the year. Between one end of the vineyards and the other, slight differences in climate are caused by variations in the distance from the coast, the Loire or other bodies of water.
Wine
Annual Production:
- 214,000 hl / 5,653,000 gallons
Yield:
- 65 hl/ha
Grape Varieties: Melon de Bourgogne
Growing/Production Practices: Approximately 7,000 vines/hectare. Simple 10-eye Guyot pruning is used. “Sur Lie” (on the lees) production is a very old tradition, formalized in 1977, and is specific to the Nantes region.
Tasting Notes
- Appearance: Pale straw yellow with green reflections
- Nose: Floral and fruity, with occasional mineral notes
- Flavors: Light-bodied with a lean freshness and crisp acidity
Food Pairings
- Omelet with dill, scallion and Thai chile
- Cavatelli with mussels
- Salmon and spinach cakes
