December 14, 2021
20–Buck Bottle: A delicious Muscadet for a budget
This wine is looking for scallops or clams to come by for a visit
2018 Chateau de la Ragotière Les Vieilles Vignes Muscadet-Sevre et Maine Sur Lie, France
Available at: Whole Foods
Price: $14.99
On the nose: Crisp, mineral, salty, delicate peach, citrus
On the palate: Lemon, mineral, balanced acidity, light medium body
On the plate: Pair with clams, oysters, scallops, asparagus, or spring lettuce salad with feta cheese
Our take: The vines that provide the grapes for this wine are 40 to 60 years old, and yield more flavor concentration than is typical in a Muscadet at this price point.
Fun fact: The Muscadet region is in the western part of the Loire Valley, close to the Atlantic Ocean. The grape used to make this wine is Melon de Bourgogne. The term “sur lie”on the label means that after the wine is fully fermented, it sits in the tank for about 10 months with the yeast and other particles that fall to the bottom in order to concentrate the flavors and give the wine more body. The sur lie process results in wine with more of a golden hue than a light lemon color.
