2016 Domaine de la Pépière (Marc Ollivier) Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine La Pépiè, France, Loire Valley, Muscadet, Wine Review

As I have said many times, Muscadet, from the best producers, is the single greatest value in the wine world today. Pépière is certainly one of those producers. This costs around $15. It can be stored in a cellar for a decade or more, but is great right now. Light golden in color. The nose is all about sea shells and minerals with a whiff of salinity. On the palate, this is light bodied. Dry. The minerals carry thru. Of course, great with shell fish but just about any other lighter summer fare as well. It works well with anything that a White Burgundy would work with only this is so much easier on the wallet. Good finish.

Grade:

A-

Score:

Vintage:

2016

Muscadet: White Wine from France’s Loire Valley is Perhaps the World's Greatest Wine Value

The Loire River is one of the most important rivers in France. Over the course of its 650 miles, the Loire River Valley is the longest winegrowing region in the world. The river begins in the mountains of the Ardeche in south-central France, before flowing gently north and then west, flowing out to the Atlantic Ocean on the western coast of France. Many of France’s Kings had built chateaux’s along the river earning it the nickname of the Royal valley. In fact, at one point, the Loire Valley was the seat of Royal power in France.

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Top 75 French Wines to Try Before You Quit Drinking (a non-dump bucket list if you will!)

If you are a wine lover, wine connoisseur, wine aficionado or even if you just like to have a couple of glasses on a Friday night, it soon becomes obvious that there are some wines that are held in a higher esteem in the wine world. Sometimes, it is because these wines are very rare. Other times, it’s because the wine has a place in history. Sometimes it’s because the wine is just that good. Here is a list of 75 wines from France that make up that category. A few caveats. I have not tried every wine on this list. Some I have and others I hope to. Many of these wines are rare and hard to find. That doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be on the list. After all, if the opportunity presents itself, go for it.

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The Ten Greatest Wines in the World

This time of year, many publications, writers and bloggers come out with their top ten wine lists for the year. Recently, during a discussion of one of these lists, I was asked what the ten greatest wines were. Before answering such a question, I needed to settle on my criteria for judging. Was it the ten greatest in the past year? Was it the ten greatest bottles which would include vintage? What does greatest mean? After some thought, here is what I came up with. First, I need to define great. I don’t mean interesting, contemplative, unique. I mean superlative. I am talking about the kind of wine that makes everything stop as you taste it because it’s just so damn brilliant. Also, I am interested in wines that are produced from year to year and are always (or almost always) great wines. I will not consider one hit wonders. I don’t need a long track record, but for example, the 1990 Château Beauséjour-Duffau was an incredible wine. It is, however, so far above the usual quality of this wine that it would not be considered.

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Burgundy’s Domaine de la Romanée-Conti – The Pinnacle of Pinot Noir

France's Burgundy Wine Region: A Primer on the History, Wines, Vineyards & Terroir contains an excellent introduction into the ethereal wine of one of the most famous wine producing regions. No winery is more famous, or produces such legendary wines in Burgundy than Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. Often abbreviated as DRC, the winery makes some of the most exclusive and expensive wines in the world. They are, for those lucky enough to have tried them, the pinnacle of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

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2016 Henri Poiron Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine Sur Lie Domaine des Quatre Routes, France, Loire Valley, Wine Review

Vintage:

2016

Score:

Grade:

B+

I love Muscadet. They are some of the best values in the wine world. Rarely do the cost more than $15 and even the very best are under $30. And they age much better than many people think. Light green gold in color. The nose has slate, green apples, sea air and slight crushed shells. A bit of salinity as well. On the palate, this is slightly oily. Nice mineral streak, crushed shells and slight grapefruit. Slightly warm on the finish, but serving a bit cooler might help that. It retails for $15 which is a very fair price and well worth it.

2016 Domaine de la Pépière (Marc Ollivier) Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine La Pépiè, France, Loire Valley, Muscadet, Wine Review

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Muscadet: White Wine from France’s Loire Valley is Perhaps the World's Greatest Wine Value

Top 75 French Wines to Try Before You Quit Drinking (a non-dump bucket list if you will!)

The Ten Greatest Wines in the World

Burgundy’s Domaine de la Romanée-Conti – The Pinnacle of Pinot Noir

2016 Henri Poiron Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine Sur Lie Domaine des Quatre Routes, France, Loire Valley, Wine Review