Château de la Bourdinière
Muscadet Sèvre et Maine sur Lie
Muscadet
 

The region of Muscadet lies at the mouth of the Loire river, with the tributaries the Sèvre and the Maine roughly defining the southern border of this appellation, the Loire itself making the northern border. The subsoils are composed of ancient and weathered granite and gneiss (a compressed and metamorphic form of granite) with the hilly terrain mostly the result of ancient river alluvial deposits.

The climate is a maritime one with mild winters and dry summers. Located just south of the Brittany peninsula, this wine region is the westernmost in France. The Melon de Bourgogne grape for most of the wines but Folle Blanche and the Gros Plant can also be found, the first used for the best wines.

Upon harvest, the grapes are immediately pressed and the skins are allowed to settle at low temperature to the bottom of the vat. The resulting clear juice is fermented at about 65°F and then matured on the fine lees for 7 to 14 months.

The Cuvée Tradition is classical Muscadet, full of finesse, fresh and fruity, and is the reference wine for the property and known for its regularity. This is due to the blending of wines from various parcels in their vineyards and a meticulous attention to ripeness, picking the grapes from each parcel at just the right time.

The Cuvée Prestige “Old Vines” reveals the unique nature of the granite based terroir of this vineyard where old vines of more than 55 years have sent their roots down deep into the granite subsoil. The result is a fuller bodied Muscadet wine with greater complexity and longer life in the bottle.

These are truly seafood wines, pairing very well with shellfish, both raw and cooked, as well as many types of fish and scallops. The Cuvée Prestige, thanks to its fullness, can accompany richer fish such as mackerel or Mahi. The classic raciness of these wines pair well with butter and cream sauces and can even accompany white meat chicken and lightly seasoned pork.


 
Chateau de la Bourdiniere   Chantal & Pierre Lieubeau
 

 


Chicago, Illinois