Excelsior AOP 2020

This Muscadet from the Melon de Bourgogne variety comes from the Clos des Noëlles in the La Plécisière site in the village of La Chapelle-Heulin. The vines were planted in 1936 and are among the oldest in the Nantais. The soil is composed of slate and mica schist.

The Muscadet comes from parcels belonging to the Cru Communal Goulaine. This cru has existed in the Nantais since the end of the 1990s. Sen name refers to the river that flows through the vineyards and flows into the Loire. From the vantage point on La Butte de la Roche, you have a view over the Goulaine marshes.

The grapes, harvested by hand, were pressed in a pneumatic press, the strength and duration of pressing being adapted to the vintage. This was followed by spontaneous fermentation with natural yeasts, then fermentation and aging on the lees in underground glass-lined cement cuves for 24 to 36 months.

intense straw yellow

If there were a Grand Cru in Muscadet, it would be the Muscadet Excelsior the expression of that. It has all the makings of a great wine. And since there are still bottles of this wine from the excellent 2002 vintage on the market, one knows how good the Excelsior can mature. But it is also fun in its young version. On the nose, the Muscadet is reminiscent of ripe white-fleshed fruit of apples, pears, quinces and peaches. In addition, there are notes of dried apple, some nutmeg, yeast and bread crust, but also some mint, lichen and wet stone.

On the palate, the young wine presents itself Excelsior Deep and powerful with a mixture of ripe fruit, almond paste, yeast and apple and grapefruit peel. The almond notes in particular are typical of this Muscadet and can be found in both young and matured examples. The Muscadet appears precise and linear with a ripe but lively acidity and an underlying minerality and stoniness. All of this is underpinned with an impression of mille-feuille, yeast, yellow fruit and the finest tannin. The Excelsior has all the qualities of a great white wine.