Domaine Luneau-Papin - Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine Cru Goulaine Excelsior 2020

Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine|White wine|Organic

4.1/5 (11 customers)

95/100

Decanter

94/100

RVF

94/100

Bettane & Desseauve

91+/100

Robert Parker

fat

chiselled

ageing wine

biodynamics

"The archetype of rich, indulgent Muscadet and one of the estate's finest bottles!"

Exceptionally layered. Delicate scents of honeysuckle tinged with white pepper and crushed stones. The palate is powerful and silky, with a magnificent, fluid texture and abundant acidity. The finish is endless, bringing out smoky and flinty characteristics. It feels as though it is bursting with potential, quivering with energy. Massal selection vines planted in 1936." (Decanter).

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Estate

Domaine Luneau Papin

Vintage

Excelsior

Vintage

2020

Designation

Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine

Region

Loire

Grape varieties

Melon de Bourgogne (planté en 1936)

Terroirs

Shale and mica schist bedrock facing south, known as La Plécisière, Goulaine communal vineyard

Viticulture

Certified organic (Ecocert) and biodynamic (Demeter)

Grape harvest

Manual, careful sorting in the vineyard

Wine making

Pneumatic pressing, cold settling, spontaneous alcoholic fermentation using indigenous yeasts

Livestock farming

Aged in concrete vats + glass tiles for 20 months without racking before bottling in summer 2022.

Alcohol content

12%

Organic

Yes

Eye

Clear, pale color with golden highlights

Nose

Lively and fresh, with aromas of white fruit, peach, and ripe citrus.

Mouth

Expressive, rich, supported by white fruit flavors and a lovely freshness, great balance, a long and delicious finish.

Serve

Decant at 10-12°C

Open

1 hour before

Drink before

2030+

Food and wine pairings

Enjoy with shellfish, shelled spider crab served in its shell with a refreshing creamy emulsion infused with coral, smoked blue lobster, beurre blanc emulsion, white meats in sauce...

More information on Domaine Luneau Papin

More information on Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine

Bettane & Desseauve

Wine rated 94/100

Rated estate (2026 guide) 4 stars (Producers of very high quality, those who are the pride of French vineyards)

About the estate:

Pierre-Marie and Marie Luneau are one of the most dynamic couples in French viticulture. Their expertise on their 42-hectare vineyard and their knowledge are unmatched in the region. The vineyard is cultivated according to the principles of organic and biodynamic agriculture, and the wines produced are great gastronomic wines, whose evolution over time is a model of its kind. Our tastings consistently place this estate at the top of the list.

Decanter

Wine rated (2024 guide) 95/100

About wine:

Exceptionally layered. Delicate scents of honeysuckle tinged with white pepper and crushed stone. The palate is powerful and silky, with a magnificent, fluid texture and abundant acidity. The finish is endless, bringing out smoky and flinty characteristics. It seems to overflow with potential, quivering with energy. Massal selection vines planted in 1936.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

Wine rating (2023 guide) 91+/100 (Outstanding wine)

About wine:

The 2020 Excelsior was made from vines planted in 1936 using mass selection on schist and mica schist soils. Evoking aromas of herbs, smoke, lemon oil, and pear, it is fleshy and taut with excellent concentration, a structuring schist extract, and a long saline finish. This well-made, straightforward, and balanced wine will drink well upon release and over the next decade.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide to the Best Wines of France

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

Wine rated (2024 guide) 94/100

Rated estate (2026 guide) 2 stars (These very large estates, often blessed with fabulous terroirs, are must-haves which, thanks to their consistency and the excellence of their production, deserve a place in the cellars of discerning wine lovers).

About wine:

Excelsior 2020, whose salinity develops over time and brilliantly refines its characteristic savory depth. It will evolve gracefully over the coming decades.

About the estate:

Pierre and Monique Luneau-Papin left their mark on their generation by crafting great Muscadet wines. We owe them the magnificent Excelsior cuvée, a benchmark among Nantes whites for aging and a pioneer for the Goulaine communal vintage. Their son, Pierre-Marie, and his wife, Marie, are continuing the story and going even further in their quest to identify the terroirs. This is accurately reflected in all their wines, from Vera Cruz (quartz, mica schist and two-mica schist) to Gula-Ana (peridotite and serpentinite from the fabulous Roche hill, one of the most enchanting places in Muscadet). The wines are mainly aged in underground concrete vats lined with glass tiles, sometimes supported by amphorae for certain vintages. These 40 hectares of vines have been farmed biodynamically since 2019. A domain in great shape, delivering contemporary Muscadets that are distinctive, precise, and invigorating.

Customer rating

4.1/5

based on 11 reviews

Note and opinion by Mr. GIL G. Published on 08/28/2024

Great white wine with good length. Some may criticize this wine for straying from the traditional Muscadet style, but personally I find that it captures the essence of the grape variety (Melon de Bourgogne). Well done!