The Gadais have been specialising in making quality Muscadet since the early 1950’s. Based in the village of Saint-Fiacre in the heart of the Sèvre et Maine district.

This Muscadet Monnières-Saint-Fiacre is produced with old vines planted in 1947 and sits at the highest elevation in the vineyard. A complex, full bodied wine with a beautiful minerality and long, grippy finish.

Grape

100% Melon de Bourgogne

Vineyard & Vinification Note

Vineyard location: In the commune of Saint-Fiacre sur Maine at an altitude of 53 metres on a hill known as Gras Moutons (“Fat Sheep”).

History and origin of the vine: Louis Gadais sensed the exceptional geological potential of this land for growing of vines in 1947.He quickly acquired a plot and, accompanied by his horse, began a large-scale clearance operation. Soil: Amphibolite and Gneiss with two types of mica.  Age of vines: planted in 1947.  Yield:45 hl/ha.

Production area:1 hectare. Planting density:7,000 vines/hectare.

Growing methods: Single Guyot pruning. Only organic fertilisers are used. Minimum use of pesticide approach.  Full ploughing. 6,000 btles produced.

Vinification: Manual picking. Cold static settling for 12 hours. Slow fermentation:3 weeks at 18-20°C without added yeast. Aged on the lees in underground vats for 26 months.  Bottled without fining or filtration.

Tasting Note

The wine starts with a nose of citrus fruits, exotic flowers, and hints of orange peels. The palate is complex, full-bodied, and intense, with notes of sea salt, tangerine, and a touch of flowery aromas. The wine is showing a beautiful minerality and a long, grippy finish.

Vegan.

Ageing potential: 10 to 15 years

Decanter Magazine

As the name suggests, this prime hectare of land in the Monnieres-St-Fiacre cru was planted in 1947 by Louis Gadais, founder of this family Domaine now in its first generation. The wine has aged for two years on lees. The inviting nose shows fabulous aromas including smoke and lemon; the palate is juicy, long and ripe, with a vein of sweet citrussy acidity. Open and stylish, drinking beautifully now. 93 Points, Beverley Blanning MW, June 2022

Nick Fisher, blogger

What a lovely wine. Nose has citrus, melon and blossoms. The palate has a wonderful richness and depth. There is a citrus edge, with some creaminess and a saline feel washes around and brings it all together, before the finish of grapefruit, lemon, blossoms and galia melon lingers and melts away. Oh how Muscadet has moved on from 20 years ago. This is the best I can recall ever tasting available.

17 Points by Jancis Robinson

Food Pairing

This Muscadet pairs well with a wide range of food.  A seafood platter, smoked salmon, mussels, seafood paella, steamed cod with vegetables and a little cream and a fish curry. Also, a great partner to avocado, tapenade and aperitif nibbles.