#2015Loire: day trip to Muscadet

Guy Bossard's considered opinion of the 2015 vintage 

Off to Muscadet for the day. Unfortunately en-route we soon ran into rain, which was forecast but as occasional showers. However, this rain was decidedly more persistent and sustained. Later in the morning it cleared up but late afternoon there were some heavy showers.

This rather illustrated the complications of the 2015 vintage in the Pays Nantais. Until the end of the last third of August an exceptional vintage looked possible. Unfortunately a succession of heavy rain storms brought rot with big variations from parcel to parcel. According to Joseph Landron the grape ripening was blocked by the rain and then a lack of heat unlike earlier in the summer.

Jo can't remember a vintage when there was so much heavy rain. Although when the harvest started in the first week in September the grapes were still healthy so machine picking wasn't problematic, both Jo and Fred Niger van Herck - they both pick everything by hand - worry that with some 80% of Muscadet harvested by machine, that the later parcels harvested by machine will have mixed healthy and rotten grapes. Jo said that his picking teams were checking the grapes over twice in the vines. Firstly the pickers have been told to discard rotten grapes and then grapes are rechecked on a selection table before going onto the winery.    

Guy's successor Frédéric Niger van Herck

is more optimistic although stresses the need to hand pick 

and that hand picking in 2015 is a long time 

because of the need for rigorous selection 

Marie Luneau (Domaine Luneau-Papin) calling the pickers to order 

Jo Landron

moustache en guyot double...

Good to see Jo Landron today but very sorry to hear that he suffered a serious accident about a month ago falling 3.5 metres off the roof of house he was helping his son to renovate. Although he broke a vertebrae and various ribs and will need to be patient to recover properly, it could have been so much worse. Apparently his fall was broken by some bushes.

Best wishes to Jo for his recovery and for the wisdom not to try to push things too fast.   

Domaine Pierre Luneau-Papin: Saturday 30th November with friends

Portes Ouvertes this Saturday 30th (tomorrow) from 10h-19h: with Pierre-Marie, Marie, Monique, Pierre, Jeanne and Joseph Luneau (Domaine Pierre Luneau-Papin) with friends Romain & Gwenael Paire (Côte Roannaise) and Carine & François Crochet (Bué, Sancerre). Details here. 

 Marie and Pierre-Marie Luneau@RSJ Restaurant London May 2013 

 New PDG: Joseph Luneau

Monique, Pierre-Marie, Marie et Pierre: fin Vendange 2011

François Crochet

Muscadet ages brilliantly + Luneau-Papin tasting dinner Monday 20th May

 2002 L'Or Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine, Domaine Luneau-Papin 

Now nearly 11 years old this is a lovely demonstration of how well good Muscadet can age and this is still very youthful with vibrant, fresh, floral fruit. It is also very well balanced, which is typical of the 2002 vintage. This will be good for at least another 10-15 years.

The Luneaus make great Muscadet and there is an opportunity to catch up with the younger generation – Pierre-Marie and Marie – on Monday 20th May at the RSJ restaurant in London's Waterloo over a tasting dinner, which will include an 1995 L'Or.

Four Luneaus: Monique, Pierre-Marie, Marie and Pierre

From RSJ News

'Wine Tasting & Dinner at RSJ Restaurant Monday 20th May

Pierre-Marie and Marie Luneau-Papin £47.95 

We are delighted that Pierre-Marie and Marie Luneau will be showing their wonderful and incredibly varied range of Muscadets during this evening.

Pierre-Marie is the son of the legendary Pierre , who has been the leading light in the Muscadet region for many years and he has been working side by side with his father since 2005 in raising again the profile of this once fashionable region. Their property which exceeds 40 hectares, consists of various different terroirs and is planted for the most part with old vines and we will see how the different soils influence the flavour of the wine.

This is a great opportunity to see just how fabulous Muscadet can be when made by top vignerons and we hope that you will join us for a fascinating evening.

The menu will be based around the classic dishes that naturally accompany the great wines from this region. Pierre-Marie and Marie speak very good English and we look forward to hearing them talk about these truly exceptional Muscadets and how they can age very well.

Amongst the wines to be tasted will be their top cuvée L’ d’Or from the 1995 and 2005 vintages as well as the Cuvée ‘Excelsior’ made from vines over 75 years old and aged on the lees for 3 years.

Pierre-Marie Luneau during the 2010 harvest 

For reservations please contact:

RSJ Restaurant
33 Coin Street
London SE1 9NR
Tel: 020 7928 4554
E-Mail: tom.king@rsj.uk.com