Les Vignes Saint Vincent - Michel Delhommeau - Clos de la Bourgeonnais 2025
In Monnières, in the heart of the Nantes vineyard, Michel Delhommeau has been defending for several decades a demanding vision deeply attached to the Muscadet terroir. Heir to a family estate passed down for three generations, he took over the reins of Les Vignes Saint Vincent in 1988 and gradually began to evolve the cultural practices. Today, the estate extends over approximately 25 hectares, cultivated in certified organic farming since 2013. Here, the ancient formations of gneiss and gabbro shape wines with distinct characters, far from the sometimes reductive image of Muscadet as simply lively and light. The attentive management of the vines, soil work, and the search for balanced maturities contribute to this desire to faithfully translate the particularities of each plot. The low-intervention vinifications, favoring indigenous yeasts and aging on lees, naturally extend this approach. The Clos de la Bourgeonnais particularly illustrates this precise reading of the terroirs of the Muscadet Sèvre et Maine appellation.
This single-vineyard cuvée comes from a 1.85-hectare vineyard located in the commune of Monnières, at the place called Les Menuauds, where gabbro constitutes the dominant geological base. This dark magmatic rock, characteristic of certain sectors of the Nantes vineyard, helps give the wines a structured personality, often marked by a saline sensation and a certain depth on the palate. The vines, about twenty years old according to the estate's indications, are exclusively planted with Melon de Bourgogne, the historic grape variety of Muscadet. The grapes are hand-harvested, then carefully transported to the pneumatic press to preserve their integrity. Fermentation occurs spontaneously thanks to the naturally present yeasts on the grapes, without systematic inoculation. The wine then benefits from 10 to 12 months of aging on lees, which gradually enriches its texture while preserving its original freshness. The 2025 vintage thus fits into an interpretation of Muscadet where substance and liveliness respond to each other without seeking excessive concentration.
The Clos de la Bourgeonnais 2025 presents the profile of a dry white wine that is both expressive and thirst-quenching, whose personality goes beyond mere tart freshness. Its pale yellow, luminous robe may reveal a slight sparkle characteristic of some Muscadets aged on lees. The nose evokes fresh citrus, white peach, and stone fruits, accompanied by more exotic nuances reminiscent of pineapple. On the palate, the lively attack precedes a supple and delicately enveloping body, supported by acidity that gives length to the wine. A fine bitterness, associated with a saline impression, brings relief to the finish and enhances its gastronomic character. This Muscadet will naturally find its place alongside oysters from the open sea, marine mussels, sea bream tartare, or a fillet of sea bass accompanied by a light citrus sauce. Accessible in its youth for its fruity brightness, it can also evolve for a few years in the cellar, gradually developing more complex nuances and a more integrated texture.
Grape variety: 100% Melon de Bourgogne
