2020 Domaine de la Fruitière, ‘Vignes Blanche’ Muscadet, Loire Valley, France

Producer: Famille Lieubeau has been growers & winemakers in the Loire Valley for over 6 generations, now farming over 40 hectares of vines including some Cru vineyard sites, they are producing both Muscadet Sèvre & Maine & Vins de Pays. Vincent Lieubeau is the current winemaker for the estate.

Place: The grapes come from Château-Thébaud, which is a small Muscadet Cru with vineyards planted on high cliffs made up of volcanic rock ‘granodiorite’ formed by the crystallization of magma below the surface of the earth. This is coming from an old mountain chain ‘Massif Armoricain’ formed after centuries of erosion.

Farming: certified organic

Varietal:  50% Melon de Bourgogne, 30% Chardonnay, 20% Sauvignon Blanc

Soil: Granit, gneiss, sand

Winemaking: each variety is fermented separately in tank with indigenous yeast, rested on the fine lees for 4 months before being blended.