Terre de Pierre 2018 – Luneau-Papin

Wine information

This Muscadet from the Melon de Bourgogne variety comes from the La Butte de la Roche vineyard in the village of Le Loroux-Bottereau. The vines were planted in 1974. The soil consists of the coarse crystalline peridotite as well as serpentinite - a metamorphic rock that developed from peridotite. Both rocks are of magmatic origin. This magma has formed the vineyard La Butte de la Roche. The red-ochre soil is unique and famous in the Pays Nantais in this form. In the past, feudal lords owned a castle on the back of the hill.

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 seven months. No racking until bottling in April 2019.

Color

intense straw yellow

Nose

This is an intense and comparatively late harvested Muscadet, whose bouquet reminds of rich ripe mirabelles and quinces, of yellow honey raspberries and of juicy oranges. At the same time, there is a smoky minerality and stoniness that brings coolness to the wine.

Palate

On the palate the Terre de Pierre an impressive depth and silkiness, in which one even suspects a hint of caramel, so ripe and creamy does the yellow fruit appear. Although there is a clear acid structure running through the wine, the power and maturity potential of the Melon de Bourgogne grape variety is more evident here, which will easily carry this wine over the next decade. In the finale, it becomes clear how much underlying minerality there is in this Muscadet that has been spoiled by the sun.