Domaine des Quatre Routes Muscadet Sèvre & Maine 2022

Eric Poiron continues to fashion classic Muscadet in his 2022 Domaine des Quatre Routes Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine, a racy and downright thirst quenching white wine. Always bottled Sur Lie, it sports a brilliant pale yellow color and offers clean, dry, mineral-rich flavors. Soft scents of citrus and stone fruits, minerals, and sea spray emanate from this energetic Muscadet. Poiron’s 2022 Domaine des Quatre Routes Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine is a dry white wine with a fresh round texture, a wine that should never be confused for Muscat – the two wines bear no resemblance to one another nor are they related. There’s no smoke or mirrors in the 2022 Domaine des Quatre Routes, just authentic Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine. You won’t find butter, oak, or the residual sugar associated with many New World wines. Instead, the limestone-rich soil of the Loire, the scent of the sea, and the delicate fruit flavors of Melon de Bourgogne shine in this crisp, refreshingly dry 2022 Sèvre-et-Maine Muscadet. Although the wine can age nicely in bottle for a number of years, we prefer consuming it in the fresh bloom of youth with a moderate chill (38°-45º F). Anticipated maturity: 2023-2025. Enjoy!

Renowned English wine writer Hugh Johnson has fondly referred to Muscadet as “Neptune’s Garden” in light of the wine’s heralded reputation for accompanying fish, shellfish, and all sorts of fruits from the nearby sea. Indeed, the climate, history, and sustenance of the Sèvre-et-Maine appellation appear inexorably married to maritime fare, and with it the fortunes of Muscadet producers. In France, when oysters are the topic of conversation or even a mere source of contemplation, Muscadet is part of that conversation as well as the accompanying plate of the finest freshest oysters. Accordingly, the 2022 Domaine des Quatre Routes Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine and oysters strike an incomparable friendship, yet Muscadet is hardly a one trick pony. Crabs, mussels, prawns, scallops, langoustines, and shrimp offer equally compelling accompaniments to this wine, but so do many other foods that have never seen the sight of the sea. Few wines pair better with pork barbeque, fried chicken, spicy chicken wings, Asian stir fries, and even corn tortillas than Poiron’s exemplary 2022 Domaine des Quatre Routes Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine. Try it! Muscadet’s bright fresh flavors shine in the company of fried and spicy dishes, which are often hard to pair with wine. Bon Appétit!

The Henri Poiron estate, the owner of Domaine des Quatre Routes, traces its origins in winemaking in Muscadet back more than two centuries. The Poiron family owns a total of 39 hectares (96 acres), all located in the heart of the Muscadet appellation known as Sèvre-et-Maine. Domaine des Quatre Routes is one of four small exclusive Muscadet properties owned by Domaine Henri Poiron. It consists of just 13 hectares (32 acres), which are devoted exclusively to the appellation’s premier varietal Melon de Bourgogne. Domaine des Quatre Routes’ vines average more than 45 years of age and are farmed organically.

Winemaking at Domaine des Quatre Routes is traditional. All harvesting is done by hand and 8th generation proprietor Eric Poiron fashions terroir driven wines using traditional techniques. Vinification takes place in older oak barrels. The resulting wine then rests on its lees for months to garner greater flavor and freshness before being bottled Sur Lie the following March. The result is crisp, classic Muscadet.

The pastoral appellation of Muscadet possesses the only classified vines in Brittany. This large appellation lies near the mouth of the Loire River, just to the south of the city of Nantes. Sèvre-et-Maine, which occupies the hills above the two small rivers (Sèvre and Maine) from which the appellation draws its name, is the finest part of the sprawling Muscadet appellation. Two grapes, both white, have traditionally been associated with Muscadet: Gros Plant and Melon de Bourgogne. However, Melon de Bourgogne is a far superior grape to Gros Plant and the only grape variety now permitted in Muscadet wines that bear the Sèvre-et-Maine appellation. The wines of Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine provide splendid accompaniments to seafood and fried foods better than more celebrated and oak laden white wines. This is especially true when Muscadet is kept on its lees (residual yeast particles) for weeks or even months (designated by the words Sur Lie on the label and bottle) to gather additional flavor and texture. The wines of Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine constitute some of the finest values in dry white wine.