I have to admit to being quite excited about trying this wine for a couple of reasons. One; it’s from the Loire Valley which I have heard a lot about but have rarely been exposed to wines from the area. Two; it’s a variety I am not familiar with.

Muscadet, produced from the variety Melon de Bourgogne, goes back a long way in the region. It is believed to have been planted sometime in the 17^th century. It became more widely planted after a ‘hard freeze’ in 1709 at which time Dutch traders, who clearly liked the variety, encouraged the planting of more vines of Melon de Bourgogne.

This is quite an intriguing grape variety, Muscadet. Grown near the city of Nantes in the Pays de la Loire region, it is so called because of an apparent characteristic of wine produced by the aforementioned melon grape variety, Melon de Bourgogne, vin qui a un goût musqué (wine with a musk-like taste). It is debatable whether or not the variety has any musk like flavours or aromas and I did not detect them in this rather attractive white wine.

Between 7 and 20 November 2024, and, 5 and 18 December 2024, selected Dan Murphy stores across Victoria and New South Wales will be conducting tastings of wines from the Loire Valley thanks to Vinsdeloire.  Check out the list of wines here. When you peruse the list, you will see there is a good variety of wines to try, all well priced too…and that’s what we like.

Region: Loire Valley, France     Price: $16.99     Source: Sample thanks kindly to Vinsdeloire and Hopscotch Season Groupe 

I am always keen to try unfamiliar varieties. This wine from Plessis-Duval did not disappoint in any way. Quite aromatic, fresh, vibrant, and ‘full’ on the nose (and I mean that in a good way) with a citrusy vibe too. The palate is a lovely surprise. It’s rich yet elegant, fresh and textural, and fruitful with balanced acidity. White peaches, pears and some lemon/lime like acidity enlivens the palate with a pretty good finish and invites you back for another sip. May I suggest, if you have read this far into my thoughts about the wine, look up at the price. It is incredibly good value. I would have no hesitation in making this a summer staple in our home.