Summer's Best Value White

Pop quiz.

Are you familiar with the grape Melon de Bourgogne?

Savvy wine drinkers will recall this is the grape in Muscadet from the Loire Valley in France.

As it turns out, Melon is an older grape variety cultivated in the 13th century in Burgundy (hence its name). However, the grape was later given the boot by Burgundians in favor of Chardonnay. It then ended up migrating and taking root in the Val de Loire.

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The Loire Valley is home to crisp whites including Sauvignon Blanc (Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, Menetou-Salon, Quincy, Reuilly, Touraine), Chenin Blanc (Saumur, Chinon and Vouvray) and Melon de Bourgogne (Muscadet). Reds in this region primarily include Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir..

The greatest concentration of the grape Melon is in the Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine appellation.
According to one of the greatest wine scholars on the planet, Jancis Robinson, Master of Wine:

"Wines are archetypically crisp, marine and relatively neutral in flavour, sometimes with a touch of citrus. Lees aging (sur lie) can imbue a little more flavour and the wines can make an ideal partner to the fish and seafood of the region."

Hmmmm. Sounds familiar, don't you think?

Muscadet is absolutely perfect for our native seafood and shellfish. And our deck!

Time to go big or go home. Let's do this thing.

Chateau de la Ragotière Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine 2013

The Sèvre and Maine rivers converge and flow into the Loire river just before it meets the sea at the border of Brittany, creating the richest vineyard land in Muscadet. Ragotière's holdings consist of 55 hectares including 25 hectares of the finest Muscadet vineyards in the appellation Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine, with the vines averaging over 25 years of age.

Chateau de la Ragotière Muscadet is delicious with seafood, oysters, raw and grilled fish, crab, lobster and goat cheeses, however we also enjoy it as an aperitif on a hot day, sitting on the deck watching the zucchinis and yellow squash magically appear out of nowhere in the garden.

This wine holds its freshness close to its core.

"There is a slight prickle on the tongue with this young wine. It's fruity and has some concentration from the 50-year-old vines. It's also totally dry and very crisp, with a delicious cut of acidity to partner that shellfish." (Wine Enthusiast)

Wine Enthusiast: 87 points

This is an excellent value in white wine, especially if you enjoy it crisp, dry and minerally. With the weather heating up, we think this is a great time to stock up on this wonderful wine.

It's soooo good.

* Wine & Spirit Education Trust Certified *

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Location 4550 State Highway North Eastham, MA 02651 (Next to the Royal Thai Restaurant in the Town Center Plaza) Tel: 508 255 3660 Fax: 508 255 6736

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