"Essentielle" Muscadet Sèvre et Maine sur Lie 2022

Muscadet Sèvre et Maine sur Lie Essentielle, an AOP wine proposed here by Domaine des Tilleuls, is a white wine made from 100% Melon de Bourgogne grapes in the Loire wine region, particularly in the Pays Nantais area. Melon de Bourgogne is one of the most representative vines of the region, even though it originates from Burgundy (as the name suggests). An early-ripening vine, it prefers cool and moderately humid climates. It produces wines with a fruity and mineral character, with hints of citrus, pear and green apple, as well as typical saline notes. And it is precisely this last characteristic that makes the wines produced from this variety ideal in combination with seafood dishes and oysters in particular. In this case, the vines from which the grapes come are between 15 and 30 years old and grow in rocky soil, enjoying a temperate oceanic climate. Processing in the winery begins with a soft pneumatic pressing and subsequent cold static sedimentation to make the must clear. Alcoholic fermentation takes place at a low temperature, while the wine matures on the lees for 6 months in underground tanks, typical of the Pays Nantais, and continues with bottling, again in the presence of yeasts. A pale yellow colour with greenish notes, it may not be perfectly clear. On the nose, it reveals pleasant hints of citrus and minerals, with notes of white flowers. On the palate, it is pleasantly fresh, with fruity notes, good breadth and elegance. The real strengths of this wine. Muscadet Sèvre et Maine sur Lie is the wine par excellence used with oysters, but it also goes well with fish dishes, grilled sardines and fresh goat's cheese.