Muscadet Sèvre et Maine La Louvetrie 2022

Jo Landron is a winemaker who prefers to attribute the success of his expressive Muscadets to the diverse terroirs of his vineyards situated on the upper slopes of the Sèvre River near Nantes. Having worked alongside his father, Pierre, for several years, Jo took over the domaine in the 1990s. Since assuming control, he has expanded Domaine de la Louvetrie from 26 to 48 hectares, adding two new estates to the family holdings.

In 1999, Jo converted the estate to organic and biodynamic practices, earning certification in both disciplines. These labor-intensive methods reflect his dedication to showcasing his terroirs' purity and remarkable minerality. The soils in his vineyards range from clay, sandstone, and silica to gneiss and the unique metamorphic amphibolite that runs up to Nantes. Each soil type imparts a distinct character to its various cuvées. By maintaining low yields of around 42 hl/ha, Jo invigorates the vines to produce intensely flavorful fruit, even more so in challenging vintages like 2012, when yields were as low as 18 hl/ha.

While Melon de Bourgogne dominates his plantings, Jo also cultivates small amounts of Folle Blanche, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay, which he uses for his crisp sparkling wine, "Atmosphères." The harvesting process is done entirely by hand, followed by rigorous sorting. Whole clusters are pressed slowly and gently over three hours using a pneumatic press, ensuring that only the best juice is extracted. Fermentation occurs with wild yeasts and takes two to three weeks. To preserve the freshness and finesse of the fruit, the wines are aged on fine lees without malolactic fermentation—six months for the Muscadet Sur Lie and 18-20 months for the "Fief du Breil." Beginning with the 2012 vintage, the "Amphibolite" is pressed, racked, and aged off its lees. Jo's wines are bottled by gravity, unfined, and unfiltered, offering an incredible diversity of flavors and mineral intensity.

Sèvre et Maine is a renowned sub-region within the Muscadet appellation, located in France's western part of the Loire Valley. Named after the two rivers, Sèvre and Maine, that flow through the area, this region is particularly famous for producing Muscadet Sèvre et Maine, a dry white wine made exclusively from the Melon de Bourgogne grape.

The terroir of Sèvre et Maine is diverse and highly influential in shaping the character of its wines. The region's soils are a complex mix of granite, gneiss, schist, and volcanic rock, providing a distinctive mineral backbone to the wines. The maritime climate is heavily influenced by the nearby Atlantic Ocean, which contributes to the cool temperatures and long growing seasons ideal for cultivating high-acidity grapes like Melon de Bourgogne.

Muscadet Sèvre et Maine wines are known for their bright acidity, fresh citrus flavors, and pronounced minerality. These wines are typically light-bodied with a crisp, clean finish, making them an excellent match for seafood, particularly oysters and shellfish. A unique feature of these wines is the "sur lie" aging process, where the wine is aged on its lees (the dead yeast cells and other particles that settle during fermentation) for several months, often until the spring after harvest. This technique adds texture, complexity, and a subtle creaminess to the wine, enhancing its overall quality.

Within Sèvre et Maine are several recognized sub-regions or "crus," each with its own distinctive characteristics. Some of the most notable include:

• Clisson: Known for its granitic soils, producing wines with rich, full-bodied textures.
• Le Pallet: Featuring a mix of gneiss, granite, and gabbro, offering wines with a balance of richness and freshness.
• Gorges: Characterized by its clay and gabbro soils, leading to wines with a powerful structure and aging potential.

Sèvre et Maine has a long history of winemaking that dates back to Roman times, but it was in the 17th and 18th centuries that the region gained prominence, particularly with the development of the Muscadet wine style. Today, Sèvre et Maine is celebrated not only for its classic Muscadet wines but also for the innovative approaches taken by many of its winemakers. These winemakers are exploring organic, biodynamic, and natural winemaking practices to further enhance the expression of the region's unique terroir.