Expression d'Orthogneiss by Domaine de l'Écu

In the glass

Medium-bodiedLow tanninHigh acidityDryLong finish

Aroma: herbal lift, lemon zest, white flower, wet stone

Palate: citrus, stony mineral, bitter pith, saline finish

Single-soil Muscadet from orthogneiss parcels. Adds herbal aromas layered with more minerality and bitterness in the finish, distinct from the simpler Gneiss bottling.

What it pairs with

Mussels marinière
Saline finish and shellfish broth lock together; stony mineral handles cream-shallot sauce.
Sole grenobloise
Caper-and-lemon brown butter sauce meets the wine's citrus drive and stony lift.
Oysters Rockefeller
Baked oysters with spinach and breadcrumb find the wine's herbal aromatics and saline lift.
Salt-baked turbot
Firm-fleshed fish in salt crust meets the wine's stony mineral and herbal lift.

History

Orthogneiss is a metamorphic rock distinct from gneiss; the estate's parcels of this soil produce more herbal, complex Muscadet. Bossard's three-soil project (Gneiss, Orthogneiss, Granite) established the modern terroir-Muscadet concept.

1989 — First single-soil terroir Muscadets bottled by Guy Bossard

Facts

Producer: Domaine de l'Écu
Grapes: Melon de Bourgogne (100%)
Classification: Muscadet Sèvre et Maine AOC
Oak: Vinified and aged on lees in underground glass-lined vats, no oak, around 12 months
ABV: 12.0%
Price: EUR 22 to 32 at retail
Drinking window: 2-15 from vintage
First vintage: 1989
Biodynamic: Demeter Certified
Organic: DEMETER
Vegan: Yes (no animal-derived fining)

Scores

Decanter 92 (2019 vintage, reviewed 2022)

Frequently asked about Expression d'Orthogneiss

What does l'Écu Orthogneiss taste like?

Herbal lift, lemon zest, white flower and wet stone on the nose; citrus, stony mineral, bitter pith and saline finish on the palate. Medium-bodied with high acidity and a long stony finish.

When should I drink l'Écu Orthogneiss?

Drink between 2 and 15 years from vintage. The orthogneiss soils give the wine ageing capacity unusual for Muscadet; mature bottles develop honey and waxy texture.

Where is Orthogneiss grown?

On orthogneiss soils within the estate's Muscadet Sèvre et Maine holdings. Orthogneiss is a metamorphic rock distinct from gneiss.

Is l'Écu Orthogneiss vegan?

Yes. The estate is Demeter-certified biodynamic since 1992 and uses no animal-derived fining agents.

Expression d'Orthogneiss