SAQ Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine Château Thébaud ‘L’Orée du Château la Turmelière’ 2018, Chéreau Carré
A white from châteaux that isn't too pricey!
We rarely come across 6-year-old Muscadets on the monopoly's shelves, and even fewer Muscadets that can boast two "Châteaux" in their name… The reason is quite unique for this Château de la Turmelière, which is located in one of the appellation's 10 communal crus: the Château Thébaud cru.
The Thébaud cru is the smallest of the recent classification and features a granodiorite soil (somewhat similar to granite) on both sides of the Maine river. The unique feature of "L'Orée" is that it is only produced in the best vintages, aged for 43 months on its fine lees (the minimum is 24 for the cru classification), and finally held for another 3 years at the estate before being released for sale.
The result is a Melon de Bourgogne that is more aromatic and round than what we might expect from the appellation. With floral notes (cyclamen...) and candied lemon, it has great depth and will be able to age for a few more years, even if it is very enjoyable in the coming months.
- Pairing: roasted white fish with lemon butter,
- Trivia: Bernard Chéreau was one of the first to advocate for aging on lees in the 70s, to such an extent that the method became an official designation in 1977.
- To better understand the Loire: keep an eye out for our workshop on the subject this autumn!
- If you happen to be near Repentigny… you could dare to compare it with the 2018 Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine Château Thébaud from Jérémy Huchet, who likely doesn't live in a château… Available at the SAQ for $30 (14556202)
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