Profile

Structure

Bodymedium
Tanninlow
Acidityhigh
Sweetnessdry
Finishlong
Oaknew oak

Drinking window

Latest scored vintage 2022: best 2023 to 2030.

vintage1 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

Critic scores

CriticVintageScore
Wine Spectator reviewed 2024202291/100

Scores as published by each critic for the vintage shown.

In the glass

Medium-bodiedLow tanninHigh acidityDryLong finish

Aroma: grapefruit, elderflower, white peach, chalk

Palate: citrus zest, saline mineral, white flower, lees creaminess

Mellot's flagship Sancerre cuvée from a single 34-hectare vineyard south of the village. Biodynamic Saint-Doulchard marl Sauvignon with chalk minerality and lees texture.

What it pairs with

  • Sole meunière Buttery white fish meets the wine's lees creaminess and chalky acidity.More wines for fish →
  • Asparagus risotto Sauvignon's herbal lift bridges asparagus bitterness; saline mineral cuts arborio richness.More wines for risotto →
  • Crottin de Chavignol The textbook Sancerre and Chavignol cheese pairing locks lactic-saline registers together.More wines for goat cheese →
  • Thai green papaya salad Citrus zest and grapefruit handle fish sauce and chili; saline mineral refreshes between bites.More wines for curry →

With cheese

Crottin de Chavignol Local tradition Young crottin has a firm, chalky paste and aged ones turn nutty and dry. White Sancerre's sharp Sauvignon acidity and citrus cut that density and freshen the hazelnut. The consortium lists it first; a pairing guide calls it the classic white.

History

La Moussière is a single 34-hectare vineyard owned by the Mellot family for several generations. The 19th-generation Alphonse Mellot has farmed it biodynamically since the early 2000s.

  1. 1985Single-vineyard La Moussière bottling established as the flagship Sancerre
  2. 2002Domaine converted fully to organic and biodynamic farming under Ecocert and Demeter

Facts

Producer
Alphonse Mellot · visiting guide
Grapes
Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Classification
Sancerre AOC
Oak
Fermented and aged in 900-litre truncated vats and tank, no new oak, around 9 months on lees
ABV
13.0%
Price
EUR 25 to 35 at retail
Drinking window
1-8 from vintage
First vintage
1980
Biodynamic
Biodyvin Certified
Organic
ECOCERT
Vegan
Yes (no animal-derived fining)

Frequently asked about Sancerre La Moussière

What does Mellot La Moussière taste like?

Grapefruit, elderflower, white peach and chalk on the nose; citrus zest, saline mineral, white flower and lees creaminess on the palate. Medium-bodied with high acidity and a long, chalky finish.

When should I drink Mellot La Moussière?

Drink between 1 and 8 years from vintage. The biodynamic farming and 900-litre vat ageing give the wine more texture than the typical Sancerre and reward a brief 15 minute decant.

Where is La Moussière grown?

A single 34-hectare south-facing vineyard south of Sancerre village, on Saint-Doulchard marl, owned by the Mellot family for several generations.

Is Mellot La Moussière vegan?

Yes. The estate is Demeter-certified biodynamic and uses no animal-derived fining agents.

Tags

biodynamic dry high acid medium body medium term mood elegant mood refreshing occasion aperitivo occasion dinner party occasion weeknight old world organic pairs with shellfish pairs with soft cheese pairs with vegetable forward pairs with white fish price trade up sauvignon blanc single vineyard still white vegan

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