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HomeTopicsGrape VarietiesMuscadet
Muscadet: A Perfect Match for ShellfishWhat beverage could enhance a fresh seafood meal better than a light, dry white wine? Muscadet is the perfect choice.
Pronounced [meuhs-kah-DAY], this light-bodied white wine is perhaps one of the most versatile of the summer wines. Found at the western end of France's Loire Valley, the name Muscadet is taken not from the geographic region from which it is found, as most French wines are, but rather from a variety of the Melon de Bourgogne grape (known to Californians as Pinot Blanc).
A Little History of Muscadet WineMuscadet grapes are produced around Nantes, near the Loire River and bordering on the Atlantic. The Muscadet variety of the Melon de Bourgogne grape first appeared in 1635 but became more and more dominant after a hard freeze in 1709 killed off most of the region's vines. High yields and a resistance to frost made this variety preferred over all others.
Because the grape itself does not have much flavor, most Muscadet wines are made "sur lie." This means that the wines, instead of going through the racking process of siphoning the wine into a clean barrel, are bottled directly from the lees, the yeasty residue left in the cask after fermentation. This procedure yields a wine that is new and fresh.
Sur lie wine may be bottled only in the cellar where it was produced, by law, to protect its integrity and quality.
Appellations are names for wines based on the grapes used to make them and the geographical location where the grapes are grown. The four appellations for Muscadet wines are:
Properties of MuscadetBecause the Muscadet vineyards lie close to the Atlantic Ocean, the wines tend to pick up overtones of sea salt and minerals with citrusy lemon and lime flavors. They lean towards acidity with hints of peach and apple. Muscadets change to a dark golden yellow color as they age.
For optimum tasting, Muscadets should be served at 52 degrees Fahrenheit and can be paired wonderfully with oysters, steamed shellfish and most poultry dishes.
Muscadet wines are best if consumed within three to four years of bottling. A well made Muscadet is relatively inexpensive at around $10 a bottle. Because the melon grape is almost exclusively grown in the western Loire region, much of Muscadet's appeal lies in its relative scarcity.
Muscadet "Haute Expression" is an appellation given to wines produced during the best years and in the richest soils. These wines should be allowed to mature for at least four or five years:
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