2022 Les Petites Sardines Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Sur Lie Loire, France

"This is a fairly small, atypical coop of 10 members, all from Le Pallet in the heart of Muscadet. All 10 members have their own properties, they bottle and sell a part of their production themselves and another part goes to the coop for use in a larger appellation “blend.” The President is one of the owners and so is the winemaker. The facilities are at one member’s winery. “Le Pallet” the vineyard is one of the Crus of Muscadet, there are seven crus in all, and is considered by many as the best. The soil is interesting, the northwest part of the town consists of light colored rocks (Roches Blanches) mixed with sand and the southwest area is dark colored (Roches Noires) and sand. Their “Jubilation” bottling referenced above represents a new movement in the appellation towards intense, bottle-aged Muscadet with better selection, later harvesting, and longer aging on the lees. These wines are very different, more serious, fuller and have real aging potential. For some odd reason wines in this category cannot be called “sur lie” although they stay much longer on them."

Varietal Composition: 100% Melon de Bourgogne

Elaboration: The grapes are harvested just at maturity to keep them fresh. Direct pneumatic pressing. Static settling. Selected yeast. Vinification in concrete vats. Maturing on lees to increase aromatic complexity.

Tasting Notes: The nose, dominated by the fresh aromas brought by the sea spray of the Atlantic, also has light floral notes. The wine is characterized by its finesse and has a slight pearliness that is pleasant on the palate.