Wines Unspecified Maison Rousseau - Malvoisie du Comte Odart - 2023

Viniou Reviews

Maison Rousseau’s Cuvée Malvoisie du Comte Odart 2023 is a charming white wine hailing from France’s Loire Valley. Crafted from the Malvoisie grape – the local synonym for Pinot Gris in this region – this cuvée is presented in a moelleux (soft, medium-sweet) style, revealing a supple mouthfeel and a lively balance between sweetness and freshness. The organic certification underlines Maison Rousseau’s commitment to sustainable viticulture, ensuring that the wine expresses the natural vibrancy and purity of its varietal and terroir. The 2023 vintage, marked by a generally mild spring and a warm, balanced summer in the Loire, promises aromatic delicacy and nuanced complexity, ideal for emphasising the grape’s stone fruit, floral, and faintly spicy character. Gentle vinification preserves both the grape’s aromatic brightness and its textural finesse.

The Loire Valley, stretching along the river from Sancerre to Nantes, is celebrated for its mosaic of soils – from chalky tufa to schist and sand – and its temperate climate tempered by the river itself. This region is steeped in winemaking history, long known for its capacity to produce whites that range from crisp and dry to sumptuously sweet. Malvoisie, though not the valley’s headline act, plays a unique supporting role here, thriving on well-drained soils that help balance ripeness and acidity, and producing wines of finesse and aromatic charm.

Given the mellow sweetness and aromatic profile of this moelleux Malvoisie, ideal pairings include regional classics such as goat’s cheese tart or rillettes de poisson, whose savoury richness complements the wine’s gentle honeyed notes. It also matches beautifully with spiced Asian dishes, fruit-based salads, or simple pâtés. For dessert, consider fruit tarts, poached pears, or almond-based cakes.

Best served gently chilled – at around 8-10°C – to highlight its aromatic freshness without muting its aromatic complexity. Open shortly before tasting to allow the wine to breathe and fully reveal its intricate layers. This Loire moelleux will delight as an elegant apéritif or a versatile companion throughout a meal.