Having joined Winemason in April, I have the joyful task of tasting my way through the portfolio, one wine (sometimes more) at a time! A standout for me, so far, has been La Justice which sent me on a deep dive of Domaine de Bellevue and Muscadet.
Jérôme Bretaudau, a maverick winemaker from Domaine de Belle Vue, stands out for his dedication to crafting exquisite wines that reflect the region’s unique terroir and Atlantic influence. Jérôme took over his family’s modest vineyard south of Nantes in 2001, expanding it to 15 hectares over the years. He is committed to sustainable, organic, and biodynamic farming and was certified by Biodyvin in 2020. Unusually in Muscadet, none of the grapes are bought in. They are all grown on various different plots of gabbro, granite and gneiss soils within the domaine. They are then tirelessly handpicked and the juice unfined and only slightly filtered.
Jérôme produces exceptional wines beyond Melon, from Chardonnay, Savagnin, Merlot, and Pinot noir. We have four wines from Domaine de Belle Vue on our portfolio in extremely limited quantities.
La Justice is a blend of Savagnin and Chardonnay aged on its lees for one year in egg-shaped amphorae. Its tart acidity is balanced with custard apple and ripe pear notes, vibrant citrus tones, and a subtle nuttiness. I opened this and savoured it over the course of a few hours to see how it changed in the glass and it was a perfect match for a lazy summer barbecue with chargrilled mackerel and salty almonds.
Gaia is a blend of 60 year old Melon de Bourgogne vines from various gabbro parcels. Aged for 18 months in concrete eggs, this wine reveals the true potential and complexity of Muscadet. It has a distinct smokey character with a gentle hint of butterscotch, refreshing acidity and delicate aromas of white flowers.
Also made from the region’s signature grape, Granite Clos des Perriere, is mineral yet round, weighty without sacrificing structure, and displays the trademark salinity of the coastal region. Aged for two years in concrete tanks, it’s crying out for shellfish or lightly grilled fish with lemon and capers.
Made from Pinot Noir from 16 year old vines and aged in old oak barrels, Statera has notes of violets, peonies and cranberries, silky tannins, and a touch of earthiness. The soils here are pink and white granite. This one, quite simply, is show stopping.
Get in touch with Ben, Gareth or Helene about an allocation of these wines.
