Domaine de la Pépière : Clisson 2023

Tasting characteristics and advice for the Clisson 2023 from Domaine de la Pépière

Tasting

Appearance
The wine shows a bright pale yellow color.

Nose
The nose opens with aromas of stewed fruit and ripe citrus, complemented by notes of honey and quince. With aeration, the bouquet reveals a mineral, lightly smoky dimension, enhanced by brioche nuances that reflect extended aging on lees.

Palate
Rich on the palate, this wine displays a creamy, silky texture while retaining fine mineral tension. The palate expresses aromas of melon, green apple, and white fruits, lifted by a distinctive briny salinity. The finish, lingering and fresh, unfolds with citrus notes and a savory mineral edge.

Food and wine pairings

This Clisson 2023 is an ideal match for seafood, notably scallops, oysters, and smoked salmon. It also pairs beautifully with pan-seared foie gras, fish with beurre blanc sauce, or aged goat cheeses.

Serving and cellaring

This Clisson 2023 is best enjoyed at a temperature between 8 and 10°C. It can be enjoyed now and will continue to develop through around 2032.

A Muscadet Sèvre et Maine of rare mineral complexity

The estate

Founded in 1984 by Marc Ollivier, Domaine de la Pépière now spans 42 hectares in the Maine Valley, in Loire-Atlantique. Since 2020, Rémi Branger and Gwénaëlle Croix have led this pioneering Muscadet estate, certified organic since 2007 and biodynamic since 2018. The estate stands out for its non-interventionist approach, exclusively hand-harvested grapes, and the use of massal selections rather than clones, producing age-worthy wines that have helped redefine the reputation of the appellation.

The vineyard

Clisson comes from plots located in the namesake cru, south of the Armorican Massif. The terroir rests on a fractured, permeable granite bedrock, covered with gravel and clay alongside rounded pebbles. These highly draining soils encourage deep vine rooting and the uptake of mineral elements that give this Muscadet Sèvre et Maine its distinctive character. The Melon de Bourgogne vines benefit from a temperate oceanic climate and rigorous biodynamic farming, with no herbicides, manual soil work, and the application of plant-based preparations.

The vintage

The 2023 vintage in the Loire Valley benefited from moderate climatic conditions, with balanced temperatures and adequate water availability. These conditions allowed for optimal ripening of the grapes, promoting both aromatic concentration and the preservation of freshness, without excessive heat stress.

Winemaking and aging

The grapes for Clisson 2023 are hand-harvested and then gently pressed within two hours of picking. After a twelve-hour settling period, the must ferments spontaneously with indigenous yeasts, at a controlled temperature not exceeding 22°C, in underground glass tanks. The wine then rests on fine lees for a minimum of twenty-four months, with regular lees stirring determined by tasting. No enzymes are added and filtration is kept to a minimum, preserving the wine’s aromatic complexity and natural texture.

Grape variety

100% Melon de Bourgogne