Domaine de la Pépière Muscadet Sèvre et Maine sur Lie Les Gras Moutons 2023
Domaine de la Pépière
Marc Ollivier and Rémi Branger have spent decades proving that Muscadet is one of the great undervalued wine regions of Europe. Les Gras Moutons, from gneiss and gabbro soils, delivers a specificity of place that demands attention. At this price point, there may be no better expression of mineral-driven white wine anywhere. It's a sommelier's secret that deserves a wider audience.
Nose
Sea spray and crushed granite dominate the opening, followed by green apple and a thread of citrus zest. A faint floral note and the barest hint of yeasty lees complexity emerge with air, grounding the bright aromatics.
Palate
Razor-sharp acidity frames the palate, with green apple and citrus giving way to a saline, almost oyster-shell minerality. The extended lees contact adds a subtle creaminess that prevents the wine from feeling austere, and a hint of melon adds a soft mid-palate sweetness.
Finish
Crisp and lingering with citrus pith and mineral persistence that invites the next sip.
- Varietal
- Melon de Bourgogne
- Blend
- 100% Melon de Bourgogne
- Vineyards
- Les Gras Moutons, gneiss and gabbro soils, old vines
- Alcohol
- 12.5%
- Organic / Biodynamic
- No
- Skin Contact
- No
Food Pairing
The wine's briny minerality and sharp acidity mirror the oyster's salinity, while the green apple freshness and lees-derived creaminess complement the shellfish's texture without competing.
Marc Ollivier farmed Domaine de la Pépière organically for over three decades in the Nantais vineyards south of the Loire, championing old-vine Melon de Bourgogne as a vehicle for site-specific expression before passing the torch to Rémi Branger.
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