CHATEAU DE LA JOUSSELINIERE Muscadet de Sevre et Maine Sur Lie 'Tradition' - Loire Valley 2023/24 Bottle

Description

IN BRIEF
Chateau de la Jousseliniere Muscadet de Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie Tradition is a lively, maritime Melon de Bourgogne that honours Loire estuary clarity. Pale straw with a luminous core, it scents of green apple, lemon zest and crisp pear with white blossom and chamomile; airing yields sea spray and crushed shell from granitic soils. Light to medium bodied with taut, nervy acidity, the palate shows lime, lemon pith and green pear framed by a chalky saline seam and a touch of green almond and cracked white pepper for savoury lift. Sur lie ageing adds delicate brioche texture without softening freshness. Clean, persistent and food friendly, serve well chilled with oysters, moules marinières, sole meunière or grilled prawns. Drink now for 2-3 years.

ABOUT THIS WINE
Chateau de la Jousseliniere Muscadet de Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie Tradition is a lively and classically fashioned expression of Melon de Bourgogne that captures the maritime character of the Loire estuary with clarity and verve. The colour is pale straw with a bright, luminous core and a slight sheen. The nose is immediate and fresh, offering green apple, lemon zest and crisp pear, framed by delicate white blossom and a faint note of chamomile. With gentle airing a saline sea spray and crushed shell character appears, reflecting the proximity to the estuary and the influence of the region’s granitic and schist soils.

On the palate the wine is light to medium in weight with taut, nervy acidity and a chalky, saline thread that gives energy and persistence. Primary citrus and orchard fruit of lime, lemon pith and green pear lead, while a touch of green almond and cracked white pepper provides a subtle savoury lift on the mid palate. The traditional sur lie ageing lends texture and a delicate autolytic complexity, producing a faint brioche and pastry crust note that enhances the mid palate without softening the wine’s invigorating freshness. The mouthfeel is focused and cleansing, with a mineral seam that carries the flavours through to a long, sea salt edged finish.

This Tradition bottling has been crafted for immediacy and exceptional food compatibility. It is an ideal aperitif when well chilled, and pairs superbly with oysters and other shellfish, moules marinières, steamed clams and crab salad. It also works beautifully with sole meunière, grilled prawns, light fish dishes and goat cheese, and can partner surprisingly well with Asian dishes that favour bright acidity and saline lift. Drink now for 2-3 years for best vibrancy; keep bottles cool and serve well chilled so that the wine’s citrus clarity and saline minerality remain front of house. This Muscadet Tradition exemplifies value driven Loire winemaking that privileges freshness, minerality and gastronomic versatility.

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ABOUT CHATEAU DE LA JOUSSELINIERE
Château de la Jousselinière is a historic Muscadet estate in Saint Julien de Concelles with roots reaching back several centuries. The property is part of the Gilbert Chon family holdings and has been stewarded by successive generations of the Chon family. Ownership remains with the family and day to day management is led by Gilbert Chon together with his daughters and sons in law, notably Marine Chon and Arnaud Madec, who joined the operation in recent years to strengthen both commercial strategy and technical direction.

Vineyards for the château sit on the classic soils of the region, including granite and schist derived surfaces that impart a marked mineral thread and fine saline lift to the wines. Total holding includes core estate parcels that are worked with attention to site variation and vine age. Viticultural practice emphasises careful canopy management, yield control and selective hand picking to preserve natural acidity and aromatic purity. Sustainable soil care and attentive vine maintenance are priorities to support long term health and to express parcel identity.

Winemaking is a family centred affair overseen by the Chon team with hands on involvement in cellar decisions. The domaine produces classic Muscadet Sèvre et Maine sur lie, benefitting from extended lees ageing that adds texture and a subtle complexity while retaining bright citrus and floral aromatics. Fermentations are temperature controlled and malolactic conversion is generally avoided for the sur lie bottlings to protect freshness and nervous acidity. For selected cuvees the team explores lees stirring and gentle élevage variations to enhance mouthfeel without obscuring mineral clarity.

In style Château de la Jousselinière wines are typically fresh and saline with notes of lemon peel, green apple and white blossom layered over a stony mineral core. The wines are exceptionally food friendly and pair classically with oysters, shellfish and light seafood dishes. Through continuous family stewardship, precise vineyard work and considered cellar technique the estate continues to offer approachable yet terroir driven Muscadet capable of fine development with modest bottle age.