Wine geek, certified Sommelier, wine importer, but above all a bon vivant. Born in France, I now live as an expatriate in the United States, I discovered my passion for wine later on in life, most likely to reconnect with my childhood and my country.  I prefer wines with character, spices and a pinch of oak (not enough, however, to be unpleasant!). My goal for this blog is to share some of my knowledge about wine regions and some tasting notes. Enjoy and santé!
Fadi

PAYS NANTAIS
Muscadet and Gros plant 

In the wine world, the Pays Nantais is the grape-growing region surrounding the town of Nantes. With the production of Muscadet  and Gros Plant, the whole area spreads around 10,500 hectares.
 
You must have heard about ‘’Muscadet,’’ which is the most popular wine of the region  - a white wine that pairs perfectly with a plate of oysters. The grape used for the production of Muscadet is known as Melon de Bourgogne. This grape originated from Burgundy but was later removed from the vineyards because of its poor compatibility with the climate. On the other hand, the vine has a great ability to resist the frost and that’s why it was planted from Anjou to the Atlantic Ocean, covering the Western part of the Loire Valley. There is four type of AOC for Muscadet: Muscadet, Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire, Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine, and Muscadet Côte de Grandlieu.
 
What does ‘’sur lie’’ refer to?
 
Despite the risk of getting a wine with less fruit, the region’s tradition is to harvest early to preserve acidity. With a harvest in mid -September, the Pays Nantais is one of the first to harvest in France. ‘’Sur lie’’ refers to a traditional method that consists of leaving the sediments in the wine during winter until bottling during the following June. The ‘’lie’’ or lees are the sediments that accumulate in the bottom of a vat during the fermentation of a wine. The lees absorb oxygen and as a result prevent any possible oxidation. This process enhances the depth of the wine and its fruity notes.
 
What to expect while drinking a Muscadet?
 
By law, the alcohol content in a Muscadet cannot be greater than 12%. Muscadet is best enjoyed young but certain Muscadet sur Lie can age very well for a couple of years to a decade. These are bone-dry to dry and light bodied wines – a well done Muscadet should be refreshing and have fruit, elegance and acidity. Unfortunately, Muscadet is not fully appreciated for its qualities and wine connoisseurs continue to snub this great wine. Muscadet pairs excellently with any scallops, mussels, oysters, and even goat cheese.
 
What is Gros Plant?
 
Folle Blanche is the original name of the grape that was also used in Cognac or Armagnac.  Classified as a Vin Délimité de Qualité Supérieure (VDQS) since 1956, yet mainly unknown to the general consumer, the Gros Plant du Pays Nantais was awarded AOC status in 2011. As with its Muscadet neighbors, the ‘’sur lie’’ method can be used in order to enhance this wine.
 
What should you expect when drinking a Gros Plant du Pays Nantais? A lighter body wine with some minerality and high acidity. This wine pairs  best with shell fish.
 
What to Drink:

Domaine de l’Ecu – Muscadet Sevre & Maine – You cannot go wrong with their wines. One of the top producers of the region.
Domaine de la Pénissiere – Musadet Sèvre et Maine sur lie – I visited them once- my favorite Muscadet I have tried- Awarded in France.
Domaine Gadais Pere et Fils  - Muscadet  - Les Perrieres Monopole – Complex and elegant – full of character!
Domaine de la Boitaudiere sur lie – Gros Plant du Pays Nantais – Probably the best that you can get as Gros Plant.

​Fadi