"Pèpiére was a source for organically farmed, single-vineyard and single-cru Muscadet bottlings since before anyone knew what those were, and yet it remains absolutely on the forefront of everything compelling taking place in the region." - Famed wine critic and storyteller Jon Bonné in The New French Wine On the doorstep of Brittany, where the Loire River crashes into the Northern Atlantic, lies the wine region of Muscadet. Historically, a region dominated by mass-produced, generic white wines, the region has more recently been going through a sort of renaissance. At the forefront of this renaissance lies Domaine de la Pépière, which was established by Marc Olivier in the French coastal village of Maisdon-sur-Sèvre in 1984, and has continually led the charge in crafting wines of character and soul in the Nantais. While some might be tempted to dismiss a producers introductory level wines, the domain's 'La Pépiè' line, identified by the tipsy chicken on the label, actually reveals the potential of the Nantais region for reds. Produced from Malbec (here called Côt, which was produced in the region since the 1920's and 30's but has largely been abandoned since) that was transplanted from Clos Roche Blanche in Touraine, the grapes, were destemmed and macerated for a week before going through a four day cold fermentation. After which the wine was matured in stainless steel for five months. Expect notes of blackberry, violet, and cracked pepper, with a stony backbone. Can be served slightly chilled. Produced from 50 year old vines located in the village of Saint-Fiacre, Les Gras Moutons is a Muscadet with an almost almond-oil richness which matches its mint-stem herbal bite, all while showing a mineral-driven, ripe pear and white peach base. 11.0% ABV
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