Unfiltered Wine Club, July 2024

"Ahh, Muscadet. Not to be confused with Moscato, the sweet, slightly bubbly wine from Italy, Muscadet is a region in the western Loire Valley of France. The grape is Melon de Bourgogne, and the soil structure there is decomposed oyster and seashell beds along with shimmery mica-schist that all sit atop deeper beds of clay, which has a couple of advantages. The topsoil is comprised of small rocks and stones that (1) retain heat from the sun that keep the vines cozy in the winter, and (2) the free-flowing rainwater drains to the more absorbent clay deep below. The vines can extend down to 30 ft (sometimes significantly more with vines that are 100+ years old), and the deeper the vine, the more complex the wine. Imagine the porous roots extending through layers of earth, absorbing all that minerally goodness, creating a more layered and interesting wine. Morinière’s Muscadet is a touch creamy and salty, making it a perfect complement to raw oysters and seafood pastas, raw tomato dishes, and softer green veggies like peas, green beans, and broccoli."