Excelsior AOP 2002

Wine details
This Muscadet, created from the Melon de Bourgogne grape variety, comes from the Clos des Noëlles vineyard in La Chapelle-Heulin's La Plécisière vineyard. The vines there, planted in 1936, are among the oldest in the Nantais wine-growing region. The soil is characterised by slate and mica schist.

This Muscadet comes from the vineyards belonging to the Cru Communal Goulaine. Goulaine, only introduced in the 1990s, refers to the river that crosses the vineyards and flows into the Loire. From the viewing platform on La Butte de la Roche, you can overlook the Goulaine marshlands.

The carefully hand-picked grapes were treated in a pneumatic press, with strength and pressing time adjusted according to the conditions of the year. After spontaneous fermentation with wild yeasts came fermentation and ageing on the lees in underground, glass-fed concrete barrels, which lasted between 24 and 36 months.

Colour
Deep golden yellow

Aroma
The Muscadet Excelsior elegantly demonstrates how excellently the Melon de Bourgogne, a misunderstood sister of the Chardonnay, can age. It impresses with a lush bouquet of lightly roasted nuts, candied oranges and ginger, lusciously ripe stone fruit, some crumbly quince as well as cool notes of mint and rock, rounded off by nutmeg.

Palate
This silky, powerful wine impresses on the palate with yellow dried fruit, honey wax and white nougat with toasted almonds. Added to this are bitter notes of orange peel. It leaves a clear finish with pronounced acidity reminiscent of dry Vouvrays. Excelsior Clos des Noëlles unfolds with time in the air and in the cellar it was allowed to reach its full maturity. An excellent and fine Muscadet.

Alternative food recommendations
Lobster grilled in smoked butter and served with mixed root vegetables and jacket potatoes; ravioli stuffed with butternut squash and pike-perch, finished with fennel seeds, butter and toasted pine nuts; or a soufflé of courgettes and baked goat's cheese.