Domaine du Haut Bourg Cotes de Grandlieu Muscadet Sur Lie 2010
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Wine Spectator
Rich for a Muscadet, with a lemon curd core, but still plenty tangy and vibrant, with chamomile, sea salt and savory herb notes cutting through the finish. Drink now.
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Located in the heart of the Appellation Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu, the Domain du Haut Bourg was built by four generations of winegrowers. The first vine was planted in 1945, and today, the surface of the vineyard reaches 40 hectares.
The vineyard is entirely located in the town of Bouaye. The soil mainly contains micaschiste, granit and sand. It gives good balance and richness to the wines. The lac de Grandlieu (south), the Loire river (north) and the low altitude (from 15 to 25 meters) create a microclimat characterized by low temperature differences between day and night. This phenomenon allows an early harvest.
Made famous in Muscadet, a gently rolling, Atlantic-dominated countryside on the eastern edge of the Loire, Melon de Bourgogne is actually the most planted grape variety in the Loire Valley. But the best comes from Muscadet Sèvre et Maine, a subzone of Pays Nantais. Somm Secret—The wine called Muscadet may sound suggestive of “muscat,” but Melon de Bourgogne is not related. Its name also suggests origins in Burgundy, which it has, but was continuously outlawed there, like Gamay, during the 16th and 17th centuries.
Praised for its stately Renaissance-era chateaux, the picturesque Loire valley produces pleasant wines of just about every style. Just south of Paris, the appellation lies along the river of the same name and stretches from the Atlantic coast to the center of France.
The Loire can be divided into three main growing areas, from west to east: the Lower Loire, Middle Loire, and Upper/Central Loire. The Pay Nantais region of the Lower Loire—farthest west and closest to the Atlantic—has a maritime climate and focuses on the Melon de Bourgogne variety, which makes refreshing, crisp, aromatic whites.
The Middle Loire contains Anjou, Saumur and Touraine. In Anjou, Chenin Blanc produces some of, if not the most, outstanding dry and sweet wines with a sleek, mineral edge and characteristics of crisp apple, pear and honeysuckle. Cabernet Franc dominates red and rosé production here, supported often by Grolleau and Cabernet Sauvignon. Sparkling Crémant de Loire is a specialty of Saumur. Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc are common in Touraine as well, along with Sauvignon Blanc, Gamay and Malbec (known locally as Côt).
The Upper Loire, with a warm, continental climate, is Sauvignon Blanc country, home to the world-renowned appellations of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé. Pinot Noir and Gamay produce bright, easy-drinking red wines here.