Domaine de Bellevue (Jérôme Bretaudeau) - Muscadet Theia 2023

A vigneron with fifteen hectares under his care, spread over the communes of Gétigné, Cugand, Clisson and Vallet, Jérôme Bretaudeau of Domaine de Bellevue unquestionably ranks among the winemakers who truly matter in the Muscadet region.

After starting his career as a vineyard manager for a conventional estate in the early 1990s, he took over two hectares in Gétigné in 2001, expanded to six hectares in 2005, converted to organic viticulture in 2009, and finally went biodynamic in 2016. He is the owner of Melon de Bourgogne vines (90%), as well as Chardonnay, Savagnin, Folle Blanche, Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Gris, which are rather rare in Nantes. In red, the distribution is 40% Cabernet Franc, 12% Gamay noir with white juice, 40% Merlot, 20% Pinot Noir and 12% Cabernet Sauvignon.

One cannot discuss Muscadet without turning their attention to gabbro, also known as “black granite” which is similar in composition to basalt. Both gabbro and basalt are igneous rocks, which are rocks that are formed from the solidification of molten lava. The difference is that basalt solidifies above the earth’s surface and gabbro solidifies below the earth’s surface.

Rather than selecting only from 'lieu dit' sites, he harvests by age of vine per each soil type. This way he can learn what each vine will bring to his cellar as they come to age.
Certified organic (since 2012), official conversion to biodynamic (in 2016)

In the cellar, stainless steel vats, casks, barrels, concrete eggs and amphorae form an experimental park of vinification and aging. The wines undergo their malolactic fermentation. The relaxation and energy displayed by the wines are absolutely invigorating: they offer a modern definition of great Muscadets, shining through a fair balance between the maturity of the fruit and the mineral expression.

Vine Age: Planted in 1988

Terroir: Located adjacent to the Gaïa vineyard, gabbro (volcanic) bedrock.

Viticulture: Biodynamic (in official conversion), average yield: 45 hl/ha.

Vinification: Manually harvested, pressed directly, ambient yeast fermentation, aged for 8 months on the lees in concrete vats and foudres, no inputs during vinification or aging, minimal SO2 added at bottling.

Producer: Domaine de Bellevue (Jérôme Bretaudeau)

Country: France

Region: Loire Valley

Varietal: Melon de Bourgogne

Appellation: Muscadet

Vintage: 2023

Size: 750ml