Chéreau Carré 'La Griffe', Muscadet Sèvre et Maine sur Lie

The vineyard is located in Saint-Fiacre-sur-Maine, within the appellation of Muscadet Sèvre et Maine. The vines are south facing and range from 20 to 30 years in age. They are planted in deep schistous soil which allows the roots to penetrate the soil for several metres. The vines are carefully tended throughout the year. The harvest takes place in September, when the grapes have reached optimal maturity.

Fermentation took place at controlled temperatures in stainless steel to preserve the varietal characteristics of the Melon-de-Bourgogne variety. The wine was then aged on its lees, 'Sur Lie', for six months with regular "bâtonnage" or lees stirring until bottling. The maturation on the lees imparts an attractive "spritz" and a nice weight on the palate. The wine was made in an unoaked style to retain the fresh style and purity of fruit.

Chéreau-Carré is one of the leading Muscadet producers with substantial family owned vineyards in some of the best locations in the region. Their vineyard area totals 135
hectares of the highest quality soil, making them one of the largest producers of Muscadet. The estate is cultivated sustainably and holds the HVE certification. The wide variety of 'terroirs' available within the estate enables Bernard Chéreau to offer a comprehensive selection of styles including those bottled 'sur lie' where the wine is drawn straight off the lees prior to bottling, resulting in a wine with more weight and complexity.