2022 Jo Landron 'Amphibolite Nature' Sur Lie Muscadet Sèvre et Maine

Winemaker Notes: This wine derives its name from Amphibolite, the greenish bedrock that was formed locally when the oceans receded in the very distant past. Produced from vines aged 23-40 years old, this unique parcel covers 7.5 hectares. This cuvée is never chaptalized, and only minor doses of sulfites are used before its early bottling in February to preserve all the freshness we seek in Muscadet. Intended to be consumed within the first couple of years, this wine is extremely fresh and loaded with minerals. Citrus and saline at the same time, it will marry well with all things that come out of the sea.

Jo Landron is too modest to take much praise for his expressive Muscadets. He would be more inclined to credit the diversity of his terroirs, situated on the upper slopes of Sèvre River near Nantes. He worked alongside his father, Pierre, for a number of years and took control of the domaine in the 1990s. Since then, Jo has managed to expand Domaine de la Louvetrie from 26 to 48 hectares of vineyards, adding two new estates to the family holdings. In 1999, Jo began converting the estate to organic and biodynamic practices, earning certification in both forms of viticulture. These labor-intensive farming practices illustrate Jo’s commitment to expressing the purity and exquisite minerality of the terroirs. With soils that range from clay, sandstone, silica and gneiss to the metamorphic amphibolite of a special rift that runs all the way up to Nantes, each vineyard shows itself uniquely in his delicious cuvees. Low yields of 42 hl/ha invigorate the vine to produce flavorful fruit, even more so in challenging vintages like 2012 where he was only able to yield 18 hl/ha! While the majority of his crop is dedicated to Melon de Bourgogne, Jo also plants small quantities of Folle Blanche, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay for his crisp sparkling wine, “Atmosphères.”