Domaine de la Pépière Muscadet "Les Gras Moutons" '20

Founded by Marc Ollivier, the Pépière estate today is run by Rémi Branger and Gwénaëlle Croix. Rémi is a local that Marc has known since he was a kid. When his father retired in 2005, Marc purchased his land and Rémi started as an employee in 2006. Gwen became a partner in 2014, following a more circuitous path that included discovering a passion for wine while living in China. Marc will be the first to admit that adding new people and perspectives helped push Pépière forward. He largely credits Rémi as the impetus of finally converting to organic 
viticulture, Gwen for biodynamics. Things in the cellar have evolved as well, with longer periods of sur lie aging for the wines. 

Pépière is among the few estates dedicated to showing the potential of Muscadet’s terroirs, and the pursuit has provided many new opportunities and cuvées. Gras Moutons, which in local dialect refers to a hilltop vineyard site, is a lieu-dit comprising two parcels totaling 1.8 hectares in the cru of Monnières-Saint-Fiacre, in the appellation of Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine. The soils consist of sand, limestone, and gneiss. The constant winds in the area make for grapes that have to be harvested later than the rest. The fruit is direct-pressed and the juice settles naturally for 12 hours. It is then fermented in stainless steel tanks with natural yeasts. The wine is then aged on its lees in large, glass-lined underground vats for nine months until bottling.  

Expect aromas of quince, pear, almond, and anise, with notes of citrus and minerals carrying through the bright, acid-driven finish.