Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine Briords Vieilles Vignes 2023

750ml

Overview

Domaine de la Pépière Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine Briords Vieilles Vignes 2023 is an exceptional expression of Muscadet, crafted from old vines in the renowned Briords vineyard of the Sèvre-et-Maine appellation. Known for its concentration, complexity, and depth, this wine showcases the incredible potential of the Melon de Bourgogne grape when grown on older vines. The wine is produced with traditional winemaking methods, focusing on purity of fruit, minerality, and texture, with extended aging on its lees to further enhance its richness.

Vinification and Aging

• Fermentation: The grapes are hand-harvested from vines that are over 40 years old, ensuring low yields and concentrated flavors. After harvest, the grapes are gently pressed, and fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks, preserving the fresh fruit and terroir-driven characteristics.
• Aging: After fermentation, the wine is aged on its lees ("sur lie") for several months, which imparts additional texture and complexity. The lees aging gives the wine a fuller body, subtle creaminess, and hints of bread and yeast. This extended aging on the lees is a hallmark of Muscadet wines from Domaine de la Pépière, which adds to the wine’s depth and complexity.
• Bottling: The wine is bottled without filtration, ensuring that its natural qualities and character are preserved.

Tasting Notes

• Appearance: The wine has a bright, pale gold color with hints of green, typical of young Muscadet wines.
• Aroma: On the nose, Briords Vieilles Vignes 2023 displays a complex bouquet of citrus fruits, including lemon and lime, along with fresh green apple. There are also floral notes of white flowers and a distinct minerality that evokes wet stone. Subtle aromas of brioche and yeast from the extended lees aging add further depth to the fragrance.
• Palate: The palate is fresh and lively, with a pronounced acidity that gives the wine a crisp, clean structure. Flavors of citrus fruits, green apple, and a touch of stone fruit are balanced by a noticeable minerality and slight saline note. The wine has a smooth texture, thanks to the lees aging, and a long, clean finish with a hint of creaminess that lingers.

Food Pairing

This wine pairs beautifully with seafood, particularly oysters, mussels, and shellfish. It also complements grilled fish, sushi, and light pasta dishes, as well as fresh goat cheese and salads. The bright acidity and minerality make it an excellent match for a wide variety of light, fresh dishes.

Serving Recommendations

• Serving Temperature: Best served at 8–10°C (46–50°F) to highlight its freshness and crisp acidity.
• Decanting: No decanting is required, though giving it a few minutes to breathe can help open up the aromatic profile.

Aging Potential

The Briords Vieilles Vignes 2023 has a good aging potential, and while it is delicious to drink now, it can continue to evolve in the bottle for the next 3–7 years. Over time, the wine will develop more complexity, with deeper mineral notes and additional richness from its extended aging on lees.