Wines Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Manoir de la Grelinière - Vieilles Vignes - 2023

Viniou Reviews

The 2023 Manoir de la Grelinière Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine Vieilles Vignes is a dry white wine crafted from Melon de Bourgogne grapes, known locally simply as "Muscadet." The designation "Vieilles Vignes" indicates that the grapes come from older vines, typically resulting in greater concentration and complexity in the wine. The Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine AOC is renowned for its wines made "sur lie," meaning the wine spends time ageing on its lees (spent yeasts), often lending added texture and subtle yeasty notes, although this is not explicitly indicated here. The 2023 vintage, being a recent release, is likely to display freshness, lively acidity, and vibrant aromatic purity.

The Nantais region, situated on the western edge of the Loire Valley near the Atlantic coast, enjoys a cool, maritime climate. This influence moderates the temperatures, preserving acidity and ensuring delicate flavours in the wines. The soils are often composed of gneiss, mica schist, and granite, all well-draining, adding a tell-tale minerality to the local wines. Muscadet’s deep roots in the region date back centuries, with Melon de Bourgogne being introduced after a harsh winter in the early 18th century decimated local vineyards. Today, Muscadet-Sèvre-et-Maine stands as France’s most prestigious source of restrained, seafood-friendly white wines.

This wine’s bright acidity and subtle salty, mineral undertones make it an exemplary partner to shellfish, especially oysters, which are a local speciality. Try it with mussels in white wine, grilled sea bream, or classic French dishes like rillettes de poisson. For plant-based options, a fresh goat’s cheese or a salad of citrus, fennel, and prawns works beautifully.

Serve well chilled at 8-10°C to accentuate its freshness and clean minerality. Opening the bottle just before serving will capture its lively aromatics. Enjoy this wine young, within two to three years, to best appreciate its vibrancy and quintessential Loire elegance.