Lieubeau Confluent Muscadet

Country: France Region: Loire Valley 

Varietal: Melon de Bourgogne

Colour: White Style: Dry

Producer: The Lieubeau Family Vineyards

Description: 

The Lieubeau family has been making Muscadet in the Loire for six generations. They are making excellent organic Muscadet in the village of Château-Thébaud just south of the Loire river near Nantes. Grape Collective chats with Lieubeau winemaker Vincent Lieubeau about his family estate and the combination of climate, soils and tradition that makes Muscadet great.

Their Confluent cuvee is a single vineyard plot selection from gneiss soils situated, as the name would suggest, between the two great rivers Sèvre and Maine. The Gneiss vineyards here are the geographical and historical heart of Muscadet. Aged for around 9 months sur lie, 1/3 longer than the appellation norm, this has so much more fruit and presence than your average Muscadet, without losing a textbook maritime salinity on the finish. Versatile and yet not simple. In short, hugely drinkable and satisfying. Organically certified as of the 2018 vintage.

Tasting Note:
Bright, breezy, and proudly coastal, this Muscadet is like a sea spray in a bottle. The ‘Confluent’ from Famille Lieubeau brings zesty citrus, green apple, and salty freshness that practically begs for oysters. Light, crisp, and totally refreshing, it’s the kind of wine that makes you wonder why you ever drank anything else with seafood. 

Food Matches: Seafood is the natural pairing of Muscadet, oysters, mussels, scallops, fish carpaccio. You can also enjoy it with starters, fish & chips, sushis, white meats & poultry, salads with garlic or herbs, and Asian cuisine.