2009 Pierre Luneau Muscadet Allees Old Vines

Mar 07, 2011 12 Replies

Guys, My experience of muscadet is very limited so here's the question: A local retailer has a special on this. Is this producer worthy of a look?


cheers greybeard


haven't had the 09 Allees (yet), but L-P is one of the best producers in the Nantais IMHO.

I have had this at a tasting and it was quite nice. What is the price?

Yes, the producer is worthy of a taste.

I don't know about 2009 prices. Cellartracker lists the average price for the 2008 as $14.74 (but it is an average among 4 users, so take it with a grain of salt).

Expect nice acidity and some fruit, maybe on the citrusy side.

First of all, I hope that you weren't adversely affected by the recent Christchurch trembler. Beyond that, I'll back up what others have said: L-P is a top-notch producer and '09 is a good, if ripe, year. Clos des Allees is one of the top wines made by Luneau-Papin, so you're getting a high end Muscadet, but one that can nonetheless be drunk as soon as one wants (though it'll age for 5-10 years with no sweat, too).

Mark Lipton

As others have said, one of the best producers. I believe Santiago and I tasted this wine from the vat. The 2009 fruit was very good indeed.

Echoing what Mark said don't be afraid to put this one down for 10 years or so.

-E

Thanks to responders.

Professor, I'm in Auckland, which as you know is a long way from ChCh and no recent family/friends connections. I recall a post from Joe Coulter? saying he was at Villa Maria in Auckland at the time of the earthquake,and found out about it later in Frisco or LA.

Back to the wine. The is much comment on Luneau-Paplin wines from time to time. Is there any relationship between L-P & Pierre Luneau?

One other question, several have mentioned tasting 2009 already, but muscadet is a low acidity variety, will the ripe 2009 vintage result in soft flabby shortlived wine?

Re price $NZD20, say $US15.

cheers greybeard

I'm not sure why you characterize muscadet as a low acidity variety (actually the variety is melon de bourgogne, but I don't think that is low acidity either).

Yes, some 2009s will doubtless be flabby. The particular wine you are discussing has been excellent in some vintages. Just buy a bottle already and try it - I think you are over-thinking a small purchase on a wine that can generally be expected to be good.

Yes, I know personally how far Auckland is from Christchurch, having driven the distance with (ex-)Milud St. Helier and the Hoares (that has quite a salacious ring to it, doesn't it?).

Pierre Luneau is the proprietor of Luneau-Papin. You can read all the gory details here:

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As Doug said, Melon de Bourgogne, the grape from which Muscadet is made, is anything but low in acid. Normally, Muscadet is quite crisply acidic such that it's often paired with shellfish. The '09s I've had have had plenty of acid but been a bit rounder and fleshier than is the norm. That's all. As for aging, I'm not sure, but I wouldn't bet against them aging well for a decade. I had a 1992 Luneau-Papin Muscadet in 2006 that was still going strong.

Eminently reasonable by US standards.

Cheers! Mark Lipton

Mark Lipton wrote in news:il6osv$n9u$1 @speranza.aioe.org:

From what I have tasted, 2009 is a good vintage that retains enough acidity. I will not call it a flabby vintage. I have not much experience with Clos des Allées, but I am pretty sure it will be a great wine in 5 years and probably in 10. The Luneaus keep a library but mostly for Le L d'Or (which is a subsoil of "granite").

That depends on what you consider acid. A top Muscadet can have a total acidity level of 3,7 g/l and that is not much if you compare it to a top German Riesling trocken with a total acidity level of 8 g/l. But, Muscadet finds its balance as does Riesling.

s.

| >> One other question, several have mentioned tasting 2009 already, but | >> muscadet is a low acidity variety, will the ripe 2009 vintage result in | >> soft flabby shortlived wine? | | From what I have tasted, 2009 is a good vintage that retains enough | acidity. I will not call it a flabby vintage. I have not much experience | with Clos des Allées, but I am pretty sure it will be a great wine in

5 | years and probably in 10. The Luneaus keep a library but mostly for Le L | d'Or (which is a subsoil of "granite"). | >

| > As Doug said, Melon de Bourgogne, the grape from which Muscadet is made, | > is anything but low in acid. Normally, Muscadet is quite crisply acidic | > such that it's often paired with shellfish. | | That depends on what you consider acid. A top Muscadet can have a total | acidity level of 3,7 g/l and that is not much if you compare it to a top | German Riesling trocken with a total acidity level of 8 g/l. But, Muscadet | finds its balance as does Riesling. | | s. | |

Thanks again. I come from the land of sauvignon blanc, we love acidity in our wine. And the cheap price comes with a minimum of 6 btl purchase, so bears a little checkout first...................

greybeard

gre

Hey Greybeard

Don't keep secrets

I will be down from Whangarei in a couple weeks

Where did you find this wine?

I have been searching (in vain) for a half decent Muscadet.

Cheers

st.helier

Caro's (Parnell) milord.

They do a weekly email specials list. The muscadet is on this weeks. They have a web presence.

greybeard.

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