21224 customer reviews

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

bold

chiseled

age-worthy wine

biodynamics

"The very epitome of a rich, indulgent Muscadet and one of the estate's finest wines!"

"Exceptionally layered. Delicate aromas of honeysuckle with hints of white pepper and crushed stone. The palate is powerful and silky, the texture is magnificent and fluid, and the acidity is abundant. The finish is endless and brings out smoky and flinty notes. It feels as though it is brimming with potential, pulsing with energy. Vines from the Massal selection planted in 1936.” (Decanter).

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21224 reviews

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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

South-facing bedrock consisting of shale and mica schist, at a place called La Plécisière, in the Goulaine municipal area

Viticulture

Certified organic (Ecocert) and biodynamic (Demeter)

Grape Harvest

Hand-harvested, carefully sorted in the vineyard

Winemaking

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

Livestock farming

Aged in concrete tanks and on glass tiles for 20 months without racking prior to bottling in the summer of 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

Palate

Expressive and full-bodied, with notes of white fruit and a lovely freshness, excellent balance, and a long, delicious finish

Serve

Decant at 10-12°C

Open

1 hour before

Drink before

2030+

Food and wine pairings

Enjoy it with shellfish, shelled spider crab served chilled with a creamy coral-based emulsion, smoked blue lobster, beurre blanc emulsion, white meats in sauce…

More information at Domaine Luneau Papin

More information at Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine

Bettane & Desseauve

Wine rated 94/100

Rated estate (2026 guide) 4*Stars (Producers of the very highest quality, the pride of French viticulture)

About the estate:

Pierre-Marie and Marie Luneau are one of the most dynamic couples in the French wine industry. Their expertise in managing their 42-hectare vineyard and their knowledge are unmatched in the region. Vineyard work is carried out according to the principles of organic and biodynamic farming, and their wines are exceptional dining wines whose aging profile sets the standard for the genre. Our tastings consistently rank this estate at the very top.

Decanter

Wine rated (2024 guide) 95/100

About the wine:

Exceptionally layered. Delicate aromas of honeysuckle with hints of white pepper and crushed stone. The palate is powerful and silky, the texture is magnificent and fluid, and the acidity is abundant. The finish is endless and brings out smoky and flinty notes. It feels as though it is brimming with potential, pulsing with energy. Vines from the Massal selection planted in 1936.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

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

About the wine:

The 2020 Excelsior was crafted 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 full-bodied and taut with excellent concentration, a structuring schist extract, and a long, salty finish. This well-crafted, straightforward, and balanced wine will drink well upon release and over the next decade.

RVF - The French Wine Review / 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 exceptional estates, often boasting fabulous terroirs, are must-haves that, thanks to the consistency and excellence of their wines, deserve a place in the cellars of discerning wine lovers)

About the wine:

Excelsior 2020, whose minerality develops over time and brilliantly highlights the rich, full-bodied character that defines it. It will age gracefully over the coming decades.

About the estate:

Pierre and Monique Luneau-Papin left their mark on their generation by crafting exceptional Muscadet wines. We owe them the magnificent Excelsior cuvée, a benchmark among age-worthy Nantes whites and a pioneer for the Goulaine village wine. Their son, Pierre-Marie, and his wife, Marie, are continuing this legacy and taking their quest to uncover the terroir’s identity even further. 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 Butte de la Roche, one of the most enchanting sites in Muscadet). The wines are aged primarily in underground concrete tanks lined with glass tiles, with amphorae occasionally used for certain vintages. These 40 hectares of vineyards have been cultivated using biodynamic methods since 2019. A thriving estate, producing contemporary Muscadets that are distinctive, precise, and invigorating.

Customer rating

4.1/5

based on 11 reviews

Review by Mr. GIL G. Posted on August 28, 2024

A full-bodied white with good length. Some might criticize this wine for straying from the traditional Muscadet style, but personally, I think it captures the essence of the grape variety (Melon de Bourgogne). Well done!