Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• The vineyard occupies mainly the primary slopes along the Loire, occasionally extending away from the river toward the hillsides of tributaries such as the Divatte, the Èvre, and the Erdre.
• The relief is pronounced, with gradients regularly between 5% and 10%, situated east of Nantes in the easternmost part of the Muscadet appellation area.
• The south-west/north-east orientation of the Loire valley coincides with the axis of the prevailing winds, which facilitates the penetration of oceanic breezes inland.
• Rainfall is noticeably lower along the banks of the Loire than on the plateaux situated a few kilometres away, and summer sunshine is considerable for this latitude, which minimises the influence of north- or south-facing aspect on the slopes.
• The subsoil consists essentially of metamorphic rocks, predominantly mica-schists, with more gneiss to the west and schists to the east, carrying shallow brown soils rich in coarse elements, sands, or gravels.
• These rocks, most often fragmented or only slightly weathered, carry naturally well-drained soils that warm up quickly in spring and have a limited water-retention capacity.

• The Melon variety became definitively established in the region in the sixteenth century and was designated by the name 'Muscadet' from the mid-seventeenth century onwards.
• The 'méthode nantaise' consists of keeping the wines on their fine lees from vinification for at least one winter without any racking, which imparts roundness and richness.
• The controlled appellation of origin 'Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire' was recognised as early as 1936, and the traditional term 'sur lie' was regulated in 1977.

• The wines are white, dry, and still, with delicate aromas often dominated by floral notes and sometimes a few mineral nuances, with a balance oriented toward freshness.
• Wines bearing the 'sur lie' designation generally show a balance more oriented toward roundness, a more complex bouquet, and may display a slight spritz due to residual carbon dioxide from fermentation.

• The fracturing of the metamorphic rocks and the texture of the soils allow deep rooting of the vines, providing a water supply that diminishes progressively and promotes the ripening of Melon de Bourgogne berries.
• The oceanic winds that follow the Loire reduce air humidity and allow the harvesting of grapes in good health, contributing in part to the finesse of the aromas, notably floral and mineral.

Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the source.

All appellations in France

Sources

• Product specification (BO Agri, PDF) — approved 16 octobre 2019 publié au JORF du 19 octobre 2019, JORF 19 octobre 2019
• Official INAO text (show_texte)
• INAO product entry
• Official trade body site — InterLoire