2022 Loire Whites from the Muscadet Region

2022 is showing as an excellent vintage for Muscadet with good freshness and concentration. One of the wines below is from the Gros Plant, also known as Folle Blanche, grape, the rest from Melon de Bourgogne.

Domaine Michel BRÉGEON/Frédéric LALLIER

2022 Muscadet Sèvre et Maine  sur lie

The 2022 version of Brégeon’s Muscadet is dense with moderate acidity, sea air aromas, and good salinity in the mouth. The wine has good length in the mouth. However, this is not one of the strongest efforts I know from this excellent estate. Cork closure. 12% stated alcohol. Lot L 001-22. 87/B

Eric CHEVALIER

2022 Muscadet Côtes de Grand Lieu   sur Lie   Clos de la Butte

This is Muscadet in a softer, rounder style with a little underlying bite from the acidity. The wine is medium-weight with some white fruits, but no salinity here. From serpentinite, eclogite, and quartz soils, vines about 40 years-old. Agglomerate cork with slices of cork at each end. 11.5% stated alcohol.  87/B

2022 Muscadet Côtes de Grand Lieu   sur Lie     La Noë

The La Noë is smooth and round but with a bit more structure than the Clos de la Butte above, with apple, quince, and pear fruit and just a hint of salinity. From granite and gneiss soils, vines about 20 years-old. DIAM 5 closure. 11.5% stated alcohol. 88/B+

Domaine de la FESSARDIÈRE

2022 Muscadet   La Mer 

This is just a little rounder (notwithstanding lower stated alcohol) than the outstanding 2021 version of this wine. Plenty of sea salt in the nose and mouth, good firmness and depth. This is a classic wine for oysters but will also do well with other seafood dishes and cheese, as well as an aperitif. Certified organic. Agglomerate cork closure with cork ends. 11% stated alcohol. Lot 0623.  90/A

2022 vin de France   Les Dames Blanches

Folle Blanche is the grape type here, better known in this region as Gros Plant. These are very old vines, and they give a wine that is austere with intense lime fruit and acidity. It’s a perfect oyster wine. Agglomerate cork closure with cork ends. 10.5% stated alcohol. Lot 0223. 88/A

Le FIEF DUBOIS/Régine et Bruno DUBOIS

2022 Muscadet Sèvre et Maine  sur lie   cuvée sélection <<fief du Breil>>

This wine is light with good density and acidity and shows some ocean aromas and flavors. Nomacorc classic green closure. 12.0% stated alcohol. Lot L01. 88/B+

Famille LIEUBEAU/CHÂTEAU THÉBAUD

2022 Muscadet   Bel Abord

This beautiful Muscadet has everything you would want: salinity, excellent acidic attack, sea salt aromas and flavors, and a medium-weight body. Certified organic. DIAM 1 closure. 12% stated alcohol. Lot L LIEUBEAU. 91/A

LUNEAU-PAPIN

2022 Muscadet   Sèvre et Maine   sur lie   Clos du Milieu

Luneau-Papin’s sur lie Clos du Milieu is attractive for its silky texture and light minerality, but lacks the crispness, incisiveness, and nervosity of the best Muscadets. Certified organic and biodynamic. DIAM 3 closure. 12% stated alcohol. Lot L23070323. 88/B+

2022 Muscadet   Sèvre et Maine     Clos du Milieu

This is a different lot of the same wine and it does not bear the “sur lie” appellation, so it was presumably not aged on the lees. It also has an additional 0.5% stated alcohol. The result is a slightly crisper wine, although without the structure and intensity of the still better Muscadets of the vintage. There is delicacy here with bare hints of lemon fruit. Certified organic and biodynamic. DIAM3 closure. 12.5% stated alcohol. Lot L23150224. 90/A