Grapes: Melon de Bourgogne
Region: Loire, France
Vintage: 2021
Viticulture: Organic
Soils: Schist
Vinification: Fiberglass tank
Aging: 6 to 8 months
Fining or Filtering: None
Sulfur: None
Notes from the Importer: Starting with two hectares in 2014 (the grapes from this vintage were sold to Pierre-O Bonhomme and René Mosse), Philippe now finds himself with about five hectares of vines. Two thirds of the production consists of Melon de Bourgogne, Gamay, Grolleau and a bit or Cabernet Sauvignon rounding out the lineup. The wines are bottled as Vin de France but would fall under Muscadet-Coteaux-de-la-Loire for the whites and Coteaux d'Ancenis for the reds if under the appellation system. The vines are worked organically and in Ecocert conversion. The previous owner had left them in pretty terrible shape: shockingly many of the parcels are only planted at 50% capacity from neglect. With a few vintages now under his belt, Philippe is increasingly starting to realize that while some plots are worth restoring, others are simply too far gone and need to be abandoned for new land.This coupled with three out of his five first vintages suffering from catastrophic frost/hail/mildew damage has forced Philippe to obtain a négociant license as of the 2021 vintage. - Louis Dressner
This is a pristine and distinct Muscadet from Phillippe Chevarin. On the western end of the Loire Valley, where the Atlantic Ocean feeds into the historic river’s mouth, Muscadet (grape: Melon de Bourgogne) reigns supreme. The ideal wine to pair with oysters and selfsame Atlantic fare. Some forty-five minutes inland, Phillippe Chevarin fell out of a life of audio-engineering and into a life of the vine where he has since been making some supremely drinkable wines. He tends 5.3 hectares in an area that would be - if he were to apply for appellation status - in the AOCs Muscadet des Coteaux-de-la-Loire and Coteaux d’Ancenis, about half an hour northeast of Nantes.
Tasting Notes: Hazy but full of minerality and that briny parmesan rind goodness of the Western Loire. Ideal for warm days on the stoop, or dreaming of a picnic in the park with moules frites.
