The Lure Of The Loire: This Muscadet’s A Must

France’s longest river, the Loire, meanders slowly for almost one thousand kilometers from its source in the Massif Central to its estuary on the Atlantic coast near the city of Nantes. Over 80,000 hectares of vines, primarily white, grow along the last stretch of 350 kilometers. This is the land of immense woods, countless orchards, fertile fields, and a diverse variety of vineyards. It has been said that the Loire is a queen loved by kings. In fact, the French monarchs, all keen hunters, were attracted to the extensive forests along the Loire. It is here where the great châteaux of France can be found—Chambord with its 440 rooms and Chenonceau built right over the Cher River tributary, as well as Angers, Chaumont, and Amboise, where, coincidently, Leonardo da Vinci’s remains are buried. All architectural masterpieces.

Vast acreages, toward the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, of the Melon de Bourgogne grape are used to produce the ever-popular, seafood accompanying Muscadet-de-Sèvre-et-Maine. Muscadet specialist, Chéreau-Carré, is one of the largest vineyard owners with 324 acres which incudes their flagship property, Château de Chasseloir. While Muscadets are traditionally drunk young and fresh, a premium bottling with extended bottle age on spent yeasts, called “sur lie,” results in a creamier texture and yeasty flavours. A favourite regional dish, called Moules Frites, is made by flash cooking mussels in a splash of Muscadet wine and tossing them with shallots and green herbs accompanied with French Fries.

Roger Voss of Wine Enthusiast Magazine rated this wine with 92 points.

2020 Château de Chasseloir Muscadet de Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie LCBO# 35904, $21.95