Wolfe's Wine Shoppe
Domaine de la Pepiere Clos de Briords Muscadet 2015 #5-2016
$21
(First produced in 2008, this great Muscadet is made from a three hectare parcel of old massale-selection vines (all over 70 years old, with a high percentage much older) on a slope above the Maine. The bedrock is Granite de Château Thébaud, a fissured rock that allows the vines to penetrate deeply, with ideal thin topsoils of clay, with sand and gravel allowing good drainage.) The 2015 vintage was a great relief to vignerons in the Loire and elsewhere as generally sunny, dry weather brought an ample harvest with good yields for the first time since 2010. The 2015 Briords has developed well quite fine and precise. It shows subtle aromas of white fruits - pear and apple, nice ripeness, with wet stone and herbal notes. The palate is predominantly minerals with citrus and stone flavors, dried pear and thyme, with good length, quite focused and very elegant, with a crystalline structure and very firm acidity in the finish. At 12% alcohol, the wine has lovely balance and will drink beautifully young - it should develop the secondary aromas and flavors of mature Muscadet at 5 to 8 years and drink well for another 10 years. This is all organically farmed and might be the best value in crisp and racy white wine that will please those that imbibe in the youth and will also reward those who have patience and wait for the wine to put on some age.