TN: 1997 Luneau-Papin Muscadet

Feb 02, 2006 3 Replies
D

Last night I came home to find a bunch of littleneck clams in the sink. Seemed like a good time to bring up the 1997 Luneau-Papin "L d'Or " Muscadet. Beautiful crushed clamshell/mineral nose, light but clear green apple and citrus fruit. Acidity is bright but not harsh, finish has a nutty edge to it - the only real sign of age. The meal turned out to be a clam chowder with leeks and bok choy (and a little tomato paste and hot pepper), and the wine wasn't really a perfect match, but it did ok. This is still available at Chambers Street and I'll get more next time I'm in, but next time the shellfish are going in straight. B+



Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.



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M

I just drank a bottle of the '04 Pierre de la Grange the other night, alongside another bottle of the '04 Pepiere. All 3 of us preferred the L-P, and that's no faint praise.

Mark Lipton

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S

Hi,

I have been a great fan of Luneau-Papin since my first trip to the Loire. I ended up with a bottle of the Dom. Pierre de la Grange and forgot about it for one year. It was a 2001 that I uncorked in 2004. Was great.

Now I have some 2002 and 2004. Which do you think is the best moment to drink them?

Thanks in advance,

S.

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M

Santiago, I don't think that there *is* a bad moment to drink either of them. As I mentioned to Dale, a bottle of the '04 opened last week was showing beautifully. Dale might be able to speak to its ability to age, but it's quite lovely as a youth right now. I'd expect the '02 to be equally nice.

Mark Lipton

p.s. I got to recently try the '04 Marc Angeli dry Chenin Blanc (Anjou)

-- great stuff!

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