Checking out a classic Loire Valley white wine at a great Trader Joe’s price, we review the Vignobles Lacheteau Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Sur Lie.
Melon de Bourgogne from the Loire Valley in France.
This wine is available exclusively in the US at Trader Joe’s and sells for just $6.99. It is imported by Plume Ridge.
Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine wines come from the Muscadet region in the Loire Valley. The appellation covers exclusively white wines. Commonly confused with the Muscat grape, these are not sweet wines. Instead these are crisp, dry white wines made from a variety called Melon de Bourgogne.
The “Sur Lie” on the label refers to “on the lees” which is a common practice in the wines here to allow them to develop additional depth and complexity. (This simply means the wine is left in extended contact with the solid build-up of dead yeast, pulp, skin, etc at the bottom of the barrel or tank after fermentation.)
Trader Joe’s fans will also no doubt be familiar with the Vignobles Lacheteau label from their lovely Vouvray and Pouilly Fumé also available at Trader Joe’s. (Reviews here: Vignobles Lacheteau Pouilly Fumé and Vignobles Lacheteau Vouvray.) A large negociant house, we thought they did a respectable job with inexpensive examples of those wines, so let’s see how they handle Muscadet.
From the bottle:
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Made from the Melon grape variety and vinified in the respect of the Loire Valley traditional methods, this wine is matured “on the lees” at least for a winter to offer richness and complex floral aromas. Best enjoyed with starters, seafood or fish dishes.
12% Alcohol
The 2022 Vignobles Lacheteau Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Sur Lie opens with an attractive aroma of peach, melon and citrus along with some honeysuckle.
Taking a sip reveals a light-bodied, crisp, fresh and tasty wine that is definitely on the simple side of things. It gets a bit better and more flavorful as it warms up, but it left us wanting. Still, it’s refreshing and easy to drink so it works for the price.
It ends dry with decent length. It’s not as good as the Vouvray and Pouilly Fumé we previously reviewed but this one sneaks by with a Recommended Buy rating thanks to the low price.
2022 Vignobles Lacheteau Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine
RECOMMENDED BUY
As always you can find an updated list of our recommended wines from Trader Joe’s as well as more info on their pricing model and some tips and tricks for shopping the store in our giant guide.
You can also find more of our favorite wines from France here!
