An Unfashionable Wine

If you were eating Dover Sole at Wiltons or Scott’s thirty plus years ago, then Muscadet would almost certainly have been the white wine of choice.

But over the last decade Muscadet, rather like Beaujolais, has fallen out of favour.

However, I was reading Hugh Johnson’s latest book - The Life and Wines of Hugh Johnson, a missive will follow - and in his section on the Loire he reminded me of the obvious matching of these light and refreshing wines from the Atlantic end of the Loire Valley with the seafood of Brittany:

‘There is no such thing as a Muscadet Grand Cru, or any ranking or even social pretension in this democratic, low-key, drink-me-quick neighbour ….. more’s the pity; there’s always room in my life for something so uncomplicated, reliable and cheap.’

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So with that prompt, having not tasted a wine from this region for many, many years, I purchased a selection from Berrys, Yapp and Majestic. One from Majestic stole the show. All were sub-£20, and if you were consuming langoustines, crab sandwiches, mussels, crevettes grises, or oysters, then this simple but very, very drinkable brew would work to perfection.

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Domaine de la Tourmaline ‘Sur Lie’ Muscadet de Sèvre et Maine 2020

Majestic - £7.99 - in a mix of six.

Lots of lemony flavours on the palate with light, and very balanced acidity, that has a refreshing finish. Not complicated, but highly quaffable and the perfect foil for any seafood dish.