« These wines are some of the unique treasures of the Loire »

Beverley Blanning – Decanter

Muscadet

These subtle, nuanced whites appear to have been somewhat forgotten.

It’s high time we checked in on the loire Valley’s western stronghold.

Muscadet’s popularity boomed in the 1980’s, notably in the UK. In the vineyard, yields exploded but quality inevitably fell. Since then, a number of leading producers – including Jo Landron, Vincent Caillé, Domaine Luneau-Papin and Domaine de la Pépière – have forged a distinct identity for their wines, and overall quality has increased immensily.

The best combine concentration, structure, intense salinity and stoniness with elegance and delicacy, bringing a « lovely quality of weight without weight », says Ben Llewelyn, owner of UK importer Carte Blanche.

Cru du Muscadet Gorges 2020