Claude Branger ‘Le Fils des Gras Moutons’ Muscadet Sèvre et Maine, Loire Valley, France 2023 [375ML]
Pickup available at DECANT Napa - 2999 Solano, Napa, CA
Usually ready in 1 hour
Domaine Claude Branger, led by Claude and his son Sébastien in Maisdon-sur-Sèvre, has long been an exemplar of precise, terroir-driven Muscadet. Their “Le Fils des Gras Moutons” bottling draws from younger vines of the famous Gras Moutons hillside and is crafted with the same care and integrity as their single-vineyard cru wines.
- WINEMAKERS: Claude & Sébastien Branger
- FARMING: Certified organic across their estate vineyards. Vines are hand-harvested, yields are deliberately controlled, and the domaine employs sustainable, low-intervention practices.
- VARIETY: 100% Melon de Bourgogne
- TERROIR: The fruit comes from parcels of younger vines (around 40 years old) planted on relatively shallow soils underlain by metamorphic gneiss full of mica and quartz in the Gras Moutons area of Muscadet Sèvre et Maine. Yields are kept around 50 hl/ha.
- VINIFICATION: Hand-harvested grapes undergo pressing and are vinified with minimal intervention using spontaneous fermentation when possible. The wine is aged on fine lees (“sur lie”) for approximately six to seven months before bottling.
- AGING: The lees ageing adds texture and lift; the wine is bottled early to retain freshness and minerality.
- TASTING NOTES: Bright aromas of green apple, pear, and white flower lead into a palate of crisp citrus, sea-salt minerality, and fine depth. The 2023 shows classic Muscadet tension with enough presence to be enjoyed now and over the next few years
- FOOD PAIRINGS: Ideal with oysters, fresh shellfish, steamed mussels, grilled white fish, or light poultry dishes with herbs.
- SCORES: 90 points — Yohan Castaing, The Wine Advocate, August 2023.
Claude Branger ‘Le Fils des Gras Moutons’ Muscadet Sèvre et Maine, Loire Valley, France 2023 [375ML]
Domaine Claude Branger, led by Claude and his son Sébastien in Maisdon-sur-Sèvre, has long been an exemplar of precise, terroir-driven Muscadet. Their “Le Fils des Gras Moutons” bottling draws from younger vines of the famous Gras Moutons hillside and is crafted with the same care and integrity as their single-vineyard cru wines.
- WINEMAKERS: Claude & Sébastien Branger
- FARMING: Certified organic across their estate vineyards. Vines are hand-harvested, yields are deliberately controlled, and the domaine employs sustainable, low-intervention practices.
- VARIETY: 100% Melon de Bourgogne
- TERROIR: The fruit comes from parcels of younger vines (around 40 years old) planted on relatively shallow soils underlain by metamorphic gneiss full of mica and quartz in the Gras Moutons area of Muscadet Sèvre et Maine. Yields are kept around 50 hl/ha.
- VINIFICATION: Hand-harvested grapes undergo pressing and are vinified with minimal intervention using spontaneous fermentation when possible. The wine is aged on fine lees (“sur lie”) for approximately six to seven months before bottling.
- AGING: The lees ageing adds texture and lift; the wine is bottled early to retain freshness and minerality.
- TASTING NOTES: Bright aromas of green apple, pear, and white flower lead into a palate of crisp citrus, sea-salt minerality, and fine depth. The 2023 shows classic Muscadet tension with enough presence to be enjoyed now and over the next few years
- FOOD PAIRINGS: Ideal with oysters, fresh shellfish, steamed mussels, grilled white fish, or light poultry dishes with herbs.
- SCORES: 90 points — Yohan Castaing, The Wine Advocate, August 2023.