Le Fils des Gras Moutons Sur Lie Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine 2021 (Loire) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a lovely, organic white wine from the Loire Velley in France that arrived at the LCBO over the weekend as part of the December 3 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Claude Branger at Domaine Haute Févrie in the heart of the Muscadet Sèvre et Maine appellation in the Loire Valley. The Domaine was founded 18 km southeast of Nantes during the First World War by Claude's grandfather. For many years, Claude worked alongside his father for many years, and in 2007 he was joined by his son Sébastien to become the fourth generation of the family to carefully tend the estate's vines which are situated on hills overlooking the Sèvre River, ‎between the communes of Saint-Fiacre and Monnières. As conscientious winegrowers, the Branger family harvests all of their grapes by hand, and starting in 2016, Sébastien embarked on a vision to convert all of their vineyards to organic farming. By 2019, all of the domain's parcels were fully certified organic.

I've enjoyed this consistently delicious wine many times over the years, including most recently the 2019 Le Fils des Gras Moutons Sur Lie Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine last year in July. Certified organic, this white wine is crafted with the Melon de Bourgogne varietal from 10 hectares of vines averaging 40+ years old that were grown in the earlier maturing plots of the Les Gras Moutons vineyard. The vines are planted on soils that sit on a granite bedrock that is metamorphic gneiss full of mica and quartz. The grapes were hand-picked and after fermentation rested on its lees for 6-7 months prior to bottling.

2021 was a tricky growing season in the Loire with difficult weather and yields down significantly. However, the resulting wines were surprisingly good with the cool growing season naturally favouring aromatic varietals which preserved their elegant structures and clean, crisp acidity. Let's see how this 2021 Muscadet is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LE FILS DES GRAS MOUTONS SUR LIE MUSCADET SÈVRE-ET-MAINE 2021 - AC, Loire, France (#363150) (XD) - $17.95
This lovely organic wine crafted with 100% Melon de Bourgogne has a crisp, elegant, and focused medium-high intensity nose with appealing aromas of lemon-lime citrus, orchard fruit, apple, and mineral with hints of melon and peach adding further complexity. There's good weight on the dry, medium+ bodied palate that is slightly honeyed with ripe apple, lemon-lime peel citrus, saline mineral, and subtle spice flavours, plus orange and melon notes. There's a subtle chalky mouthfeel on the mid-palate, along with clean, crisp, and juicy acidity. Minerally with citrus and apple notes lingering on the long, juicy, and dry finish. Ideal with oysters. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

You can find other lovely wines by Domaine Haute Févrie through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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Domaine La Haute Févrie Sur Lie Muscadet Sèvre et Maine 2020 (Loire) - Wine Review

After a one year hiatus, it's great to see this lovely organic Muscadet made with the Melon de Bourgogne varietal come back to Ontario. I enjoyed the 2018 Domaine La Haute Févrie Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie almost two years ago to the day, and for tonight's wine review I bring you the 2020 vintage that arrives at the LCBO this weekend as part of the July 16 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Sébastien Branger produces this lovely Muscadet. He is an independent winemaker situated in the heart of the Muscadet Sèvre et Maine appellation, 18 kilometres southeast of Nantes, at his family's estate - Domaine Haute Févrie. Sébastien represents the fourth generation of a family of winemakers who have been carefully tending their vines to ensure that they produce the very best grapes possible. Today, Domaine Haute Févrie has 26 hectares of estate vines and practices organic and biodynamic viticulture in order to craft wines that are pure to their origins and reflect the soils where they are grown. Sébastien has great respect for the vine and the environment and does not use any chemical fertilizers, while also controlling yields and harvesting all of their fruit by hand.

The 2020 edition from their Classiques range is crafted with the Melon de Bourgogne varietal from young vines between 15 to 35 years old grown organically on the estate. The vines are located on slopes with mostly gneiss sub-soils. The grapes were hand-harvested and aged on its lees for 7 months prior to bottling.

Leading into the 2020 growing season, the winter was the warmest ever recorded in the Loire Valley, with periods of intense rain that left the soils fully replenished. March and April were alternately warm and cool, with budbreak occurring earlier than average. Late April and May remained warm with flowering occurring earlier than normal. July began cool, but turned very warm, while August was hot. Harvest occurred after the much-welcomed rains at the end of August and throughout the fine September weather. Overall, 2020 was an excellent vintage throughout the Loire Valley with grapes showing superb concentration, freshness, and poise. Let's see how this 2020 Muscadet is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

DOMAINE LA HAUTE FÉVRIE SUR LIE MUSCADET SÈVRE ET MAINE 2020 - AC, Loire, France (#390625) (XD) - $15.95
100% Melon de Bourgogne. Organic. Fresh, intense aromas of ripe lemon, citrus, white floral, golden apple, and leesy minerals with a twist of honey in an elegant profile. Impressively concentrated on the dry, medium-full bodied, and crisp palate with lemon citrus, apple, grapefruit, and oyster shell mineral flavours. Tangy on the mid-palate with crisp, fresh acidity. Pure notes of oyster shell mineral linger on the long, succulent finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts

Other lovely wines by Sébastien Branger are available through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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Le Fils des Gras Moutons Sur Lie Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine 2019 (Loire) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is the latest vintage of this lovely Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine white wine that is made using the Melon de Bourgogne varietal. It arrived at the LCBO over the weekend, as part of the LCBO VINTAGES Release on June 26.

Domaine la Haute Févrie was founded in the heart of the Muscadet Sèvre et Maine appellation, 18 km southeast of Nantes, Loire, during the First World War by Claude Branger's grandfather. Claude worked alongside his father for many years, and in 2007, Sébastien Branger, Claude's son, joined the domain to become the fourth generation of the family to carefully tend the vines. The estate vines are grown on hills overlooking the Sèvre River, ‎between the communes of Saint-Fiacre and Monnières, and enjoy optimum ripening conditions. The Branger's are conscientious winegrowers, harvesting all of the grapes by hand. Starting in 2016, Sébastien embarked on a vision to convert all of their vineyards to organic farming, and by 2019 all of the domain's parcels was fully certified to organic.

The grapes for this wine come from their "Les Gras Moutons" named single vineyard, which translates to "Fat Sheep", perhaps because there was a well-fed sheep that used to graze on this land. The wine is named "Le Fils des Gras Moutons", which translates to "The Son of the Fat Sheep", perhaps because the first sheep was the father of a lamb.

In all seriousness, "mouton" is actually a variant on the Old French word motton, which means a slight rise or small hill. Thus, "Gras Moutons" refers to larger hill where the grapes for this wine were grown. It is made with 100% Melon de Bourgogne from 26 acres of vines in earlier maturing plots of the Les Gras Moutons vineyard. The vines average 40+ years old and are planted on soils that sit on granite bedrock that is metamorphic gneiss full of mica and quartz. The grapes are hand-picked and rest on lees for 6-7 months prior to bottling.

I've enjoyed this white wine numerous times over the years, including most recently last July when the 2018 Le Fils des Gras Moutons Sur Lie Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine arrived in LCBO VINTAGES last June. Although yields were down in 2019, the quality was very good, especially for white wines. Let's see how this white wine is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LE FILS DES GRAS MOUTONS SUR LIE MUSCADET SÈVRE-ET-MAINE 2019 - AC, Loire, France (#363150) (XD) - $16.95
100% Melon de Bourgogne. Fresh, intense, lemon-lime citrus, and wet stone aromas with hints of saline, orange peel and musky spice notes rising out of the glass. It's medium+ bodied and ripe on the palate with very good concentration and flavours of lemon-lime citrus, wet stone, oyster shell mineral, saline, and touches of honey. It's nicely balanced throughout with very good acidity and a finely textured mid-palate. It finishes with lovely wet stone minerals and tart lemons on the lip-smacking, juicy finish, with excellent length. Easily the best vintage I've tasted. Chill and enjoy this highly recommended buy. Score: 90 pts

Other lovely wines from Domaine la Haute Févrie can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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Le Fils des Gras Moutons Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie 2018 (Loire) - Wine Review

Following up on the lovely 2018 Domaine La Haute Févrie Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie that I opened on Friday, tonight's wine review is another Muscadet from the same producer - and same vintage. It arrived in LCBO VINTAGES on June 27 and plenty are available throughout the province.

This white wine is produced by independent winemaker Sébastien Branger at Domaine Haute Févrie in Muscadet. Located in the heart of the Muscadet Sèvre et Maine appellation, 18 km southeast of Nantes, in Loire, the estate vines are grown on hills overlooking the Sèvre River, ‎between the communes of Saint-Fiacre and Monnières, and enjoy optimum ripening conditions. Sébastien is the fourth generation of his family of winemakers that have carefully tended to the vines.

Today, all 26 hectares of estate vineyards are located within the Muscadet Sèvre et Maine PDO. There are several distinct plots of vineyards, each with a different aspect and soil type that are either siliceous clay or gravelly and shallow, with sub-soils of gneiss, ‎orthogneiss and amphibolites. Because of this diversity of soils, Sébastien is able to produce many styles of wines that are specific to the site, such as this "Gras Moutons" that is made with fruit from the Saint-Fiacre area. In addition, the vines are cultivated with respect for the environment and without the use of chemical fertilizers in order to grow the wines in a more natural manner.

I have enjoyed previous vintages of this white wine, including most recently the 2016 Le Fils des Gras Moutons Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine Sur Lie, so let's how the 2018 is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LE FILS DES GRAS MOUTONS MUSCADET SÈVRE ET MAINE SUR LIE 2018 - AC, Loire, France (#363150) (XD) - $16.95
100% Melon de Bourgogne that was hand-picked from 40 to 70 year old vines. The medium intensity nose offers lemon citrus with melon aromas surrounded by stony, oyster shell minerality. The fleshy, medium+ bodied has gentle acidity and flavours of lemon/lime citrus and oyster shell mineral with touches of melon and stone fruits. Nice chalky mineral texture on the mid-palate, while the finish length is very good, closing with stony mineral notes. Enjoy now with seafood. Score: 87 pts

Other wines from Domaine Haute Févrie can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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Domaine La Haute Févrie Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie 2018 (Loire) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is this lovely organic Muscadet Sèvre et Maine from the Loire Valley that arrives at the LCBO as part of the July 25th LCBO VINTAGES Release and is available in some stores now.

It is produced by Sébastien Branger, an independent winemaker at his family's estate - Domaine Haute Févrie - in the heart of the Muscadet Sèvre et Maine appellation, 18 kilometres southeast of Nantes. He is the fourth generation of a family of winemakers that have carefully tended to the vines to ensure they produce the very best grapes possible. Domaine Haute Févrie practices organic and biodynamic viticulture in order to craft wines that are pure to their origins and reflect the soils where they are grown, while also having respect for the environment. Sébastien does not use any chemical fertilizers, while controlling yields and harvesting entirely by hand.

This particular organic white wine is made with the Melon de Bourgogne grape varietal from vines that average 35 years old and grown on a plot called "Clos de la Févrie". This small piece of land is located on the hills overlooking the Maine River in Saint-Fiacre and is the earliest maturing plot of the entire estate. The soil here consists of mostly gneiss sub-soils.

I enjoyed the 2017 Domaine La Haute Févrie Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie when it showed up in LCBO VINTAGES in April of last year, and I would expect the 2018 to be just as delicious as the vintage has been described as 'historic'. Other delicious wines from Domaine La Haute Févrie can be found via their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

Tasting Note:

DOMAINE LA HAUTE FÉVRIE MUSCADET SÈVRE ET MAINE SUR LIE 2018 - AC, Loire, France (#390625) (XD) - $16.95
From vines averaging 35 years of age, this organic Melon de Bourgogne was hand-harvested and matured on lees for 7 months. This organic white wine has fresh, ripe aromas of lemon citrus, stone fruit, and grapefruit with layered over fine minerality and touches of herb. It's more apple flavoured on the ripe, structured, concentrated, and medium-bodied palate with zesty acidity, joined by lemon/lime citrus and oyster shell mineral flavours throughout, while the stony mineral notes linger on the long, dry, crisp finish. Ideal with seafood. Recommended buy. Score: 89 pts

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Domaine la Haute Févrie Sur Lie Muscadet Sèvre et Maine 2017 (Loire) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a nice organic white wine made with the Melon de Bourgogne varietal that will be coming to LCBO VINTAGES on April 27.

This Domaine was founded by Sébastien Branger's great-grandfather in 1915. Sébastien became the family's fourth generation of winemakers in 2007 when he began working with his father, Claude Branger, at their family estate, Domaine la Haute Févrie. The estate is located in the heart of the Muscadet Sèvre et Maine appellation, 18 km southeast of Nantes, and has 30 ha of vineyards within the appellation.

Since enjoying the 2014 Domaine la Haute Févrie Sur Lie Muscadet Sèvre et Maine when it came through VINTAGES in September 2015, it appears as though the winery undergone a slight brand refresh. The 2017 vintage of this wine arrives with a fresh and more modern looking label, and includes Sébastien's name rather prominently. The family has been busy converting all of their vineyards to certified organic - a task that should be 100% complete with the 2019 vintage. They also farm their grapes using biodynamic principles. This particular Muscadet is also now a certified organic wine and comes from plot called the Clos de la Févrie that is located in the hills overlooking the Maine river in Saint-Fiacre, with vines averaging 35 years of age.

Tasting Note:

DOMAINE LA HAUTE FÉVRIE SUR LIE MUSCADET SÈVRE ET MAINE 2017 - AC, Loire, France (#390625) (XD) - $15.95
This organic white wine made with Melon de Bourgogne was hand-harvested and spent 7 months on the lees. In the glass, this offers ripe melon, lemon, pear, and white grapefruit aromas with hints of mineral. The medium-bodied palate has a slight spritz with ripe and honeyed flavours of citrus, grapefruit, herbs, and lemon. Acids are crisp and clean, while the mid-palate brings out stony mineral notes that continue through to the finish, with good length. A fine match for oysters, fish, or what I'll be enjoying it with - boiled lobster. Score: 88 pts

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Le Fils des Gras Moutons Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine Sur Lie 2016 (Loire) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine is a sneak preview of a white wine that will be coming to LCBO VINTAGES on July 21.

I liked the 2015 Le Fils des Gras Moutons Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine Sur Lie when it showed up in LCBO VINTAGES in March 2017 and am pleased to see this wine return at the same price point.

Produced by Domaine la Haute Févrie in the heart of the Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine protected designation of origin (DO), the estate vines grow on the hills overlooking the Sèvre, between Saint-Fiacre and Monnières.

In 2016, Muscadet vines in the Loire Valley were heavily affected by frost and hydric stress (i.e. lots of water). However, perfect weather conditions in September ensured that grapes were of high quality, resulting in wines that should have good texture and mouthfeel, and plenty of fruit. Let's see how this Muscadet is tasting.

Tasting Note:

LE FILS DES GRAS MOUTONS MUSCADET SÈVRE-ET-MAINE SUR LIE 2016 - AC, Loire, France (#363150) (XD) - $14.95
100% Melon de Bourgogne hand-picked from 40-70 year-old vines. Lemony aromas from the cork. In the glass, the nose is subtle, offering apple and citrus aromas with hints of stony minerals. Very good intensity on the crunchy palate with green apple and tart citrus flavours, plus some mineral and fennel notes, Fresh with vibrant, lively acids and a light spritz on the medium-bodied frame that is nicely textured. Stony mineral with hints of herbal linger on the finish, with very good length. The ideal oyster wine, but can also paired with shrimp. Very good buy. Score: 88 pts

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Le Fils des Gras Moutons Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine Sur Lie 2015 (Loire) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine is a nice little sipper ideal for oysters or as an apertif. This white wine will be on LCBO VINTAGES shelves this weekend as part of the March 18 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Domaine la Haute Févrie, a winery located southeast of Nantes, in the heart of the Muscadet Sèvre et Maine DO, in the western end of the Loire Valley. The estate's 30 hectares of vines grow on the hills overlooking the river Sèvre, between the communes of Saint-Fiacre and Monnières. Terroir consists of several plots of vineyards, each with a different aspect and soil: siliceous clay or gravelly shallow, and all on metamorphic rock (gneiss, orthogneiss, and amphibolites), resulting in a range of highly individualized blocks.

The family that produced this wine has four generations of winemaking experience, and currently manages their vineyard using environmentally-friendly principles, subscribing to the Terra Vitis method of sustainable wine growing by, among other things, not using any chemical fertilizers.

Tasting Note:

LE FILS DES GRAS MOUTONS MUSCADET SÈVRE-ET-MAINE SUR LIE 2015 - AC, Loire, France (#363150) (XD) - $14.95
Nice lemon citrus and fennel aromas from the cork. Made with 100% Melon de Bourgogne that was hand-picked from 40-70 year-old vines, this has pleasing orange citrus, floral and fennel with whiffs of beeswax and mineral of medium-high intensity from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with a light refreshing spritz, dry and flavourful with notes of lemon/lime citrus, and floral. Texture is slightly viscous and minerally. Crisp acids. Finishes with good length and a stony mineral flavour. Score: 87 pts

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Domaine la Haute Févrie Sur Lie Muscadet Sèvre & Maine 2014 (Loire) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine is a sneak preview of a white wine that will be in VINTAGES on September 5th.

Domaine la Haute Févrie is situated in the western part of France, within Loire, and 18 km southeast of Nantes, and located in the heart of the Muscadet Sèvre et Maine appellation. Family-owned and operated while producing 4 generations of winemakers that carefully tended to the vines over the years to produce the very best grapes possible.

Today, Domaine la Haute Févrie covers 30 hectares of vineyards, all within Muscadet Sèvre et Maine appellation. Several plots make up the 30 hecatres, each with different soils such as either siliceous clay or gravelly and shallow, all on metamorphic rock. Furthermore, this winery subscribes to the Terra Vitis methods of sustainable wine growing approach including no use of chemical fertilizers, and yield control by hand. They are also moving towards natural management of the vines.

This white wine comes from Clos de la Févrie, the earliest maturing plots of the entire estate, located in the hills overlooking the Maine river to the south in Saint-Fiacre.


DOMAINE LA HAUTE FÉVRIE SUR LIE MUSCADET SÈVRE & MAINE 2014 - AC, Loire, France (#390625) (XD) - $13.95

Tasting Note:

From 35 year old vines, hand-harvested and on the lees for 7 months. 100% Melon de Bourgogne. Refreshing lemon/lime aromas from the cork. Very good aromas of sweet lemons, citrus, wet earth, and a perfumed flowery note on the back end. The palate is medium-bodied with finely cut acids. It's dry with citrus, Asian pear, floral and honeyed-fruit flavours on the palate. Mineral, citrus and honeysuckle notes on the lingering finish. Some saline notes as it warms up in the glass. This is a wine that changes quite a bit depending on temperature. Over chill it and see how it changes as it warms up. Score: 88+ pts

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