Winery: L'Aiguillette
Region: Loire (Loire Valley)
Locale: Mouzillon, Muscadet-Sèvre et Maine, France
Appellation: Muscadet Sevre et Maine Sur Lie
Designation: AOC
In a few words: The world's greatest wine for oysters on the half-shell.
Site: Estate vineyards are primarily sandy-gravel with high mineral content, farmed “in the good spirit” with minimal intervention.
Grapes: 100% Melon de Bourgogne
Fermentation and Aging: Vinified in temperature controlled stainless steel cuves. The designation “sur lie” means the wines must rest on their fine lees – the dead yeast cells and other by-products of vinification – until at least the 15th of March, following the vintage year. This lees contact gives the wine richness and texture it would not otherwise have to share.
Notes: Although this may be the world’s greatest wine for oysters on the half shell - and there are a few other wines I can think of in our portfolio alone that would give Aiguillette a run for its money! - it is in fact an extremely versatile wine that pairs beautifully and naturally with all kinds of seafood and makes a beautiful aperitif as well. And the price is right. Make sure you’ve got a couple of bottles chilled in the fridge at all times!
Vintage: 2012