Domaine Pierre Luneau Papin - Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine Sur Lie Vera Cruz 2024

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. Work in the vineyard 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. In our tastings, this estate consistently ranks at the very top.

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 age-worthy Nantes whites and a pioneer for the Goulaine communal wine. Their son Pierre-Marie and his wife Marie are carving out an indelible legacy in Muscadet through their quest to reveal the identity of the terroirs—a vision faithfully 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, sometimes supplemented by terracotta amphorae, stoneware jars, barrels, and casks. These 27 hectares have been farmed biodynamically since 2019. A thriving estate, producing contemporary Muscadets that are distinctive, precise, and invigorating. We are in the realm of great wines, and it is only natural to reward this outstanding work with a third star this year.