The Terroir

The estate’s vineyards are located in the eastern portion of Vallet, one of the newly established Muscadet Crus, spread over rolling hills and small valleys. The soil consists of mica schists, which allow for the rapid flow of water and quick warming of the soil in spring to generate an early start for the vine. This crumbly rock also allows deep rooting of vines. Deeper down, the roots find clay and silt areas rich in minerals, which are useful in summer to conserve water resources. The orientation of the vines, slope, soil thickness, and age of the vines vary among the plots. Due to its geographical location, the vineyard benefits from an oceanic cool climate, south of the Loire River, 30 miles from the Atlantic Ocean, which makes it ideal conditions for the production of white wines synonymous with their refreshing and bright character. Winters are relatively mild, which enables a fairly early start for the vines. Summers are relatively dry but with mild temperatures. The vines suffer little water stress, and the balance between the sugars and acids in the berries allows for aromatic wines that retain freshness and minerality.

The Winemaking

Whereas most Muscadets are left on the lees only a short time, all of the Les Tilleuls’ wines are bottled sur lie. The wines are not racked after fermentation but are drawn directly off the lees and bottled immediately, leaving in the wine some of the carbon dioxide created by the fermentation. Les Tilleuls bottles no earlier than April, allowing time for the lees to nourish the wine and define its character. In the cellar, Domaine des Tilleuls concentrates on bringing out the character of the wines using long pneumatic pressing, cold maceration between 18 to 24 hours to improve aromas, and controlled-temperature fermentation (16°C-18°C) in order to get a better preservation of all aromatic flavors. To enable them to reach full maturity, the Muscadets are matured for about 7 months or up to 12 months on fine lees in concrete underground cement vats (typical of the Pays Nantais) that will enhance aroma expression and body of the wines.

Sustainable Viticulture

Committed to producing environmentally-friendly wines with the utmost respect for the terroir and its environment; Domaine des Tilleuls is awarded with the HEV* certification (*High Environmental Value) since 2018, demonstrating its commitment to the environment for sustainable viticulture.

Domaine des Tilleuls’ wine estate is above all a family business; its winemaking heritage dates back five generations. The family winery has been a part of the Muscadet wine region since 1905 and covers almost 35 hectares of vines divided into several distinct plots. Today, two generations work closely together, sharing the same passion for winemaking, in order to produce high-quality wines every year.

2020 Domaine Des Tilleuls “Venerables” Muscadet, Sèvre et Maine, France

Tasting Notes

This Muscadet is a selection of old vines; hand-harvested from these parcels only to keep the best grapes, which do give more concentration and a great swathe of ripe fruit. Combining fine delicacy and refreshing minerality, this wine is a benchmark of the appellation.

Translucent, crystalline color with green tints. Appealing nose of citrus fruits, spring scents, and a mineral dimension. The palate offers up an impressive, rich, silky presence, intense, precise aromas, and delicate freshness. Lovely.

Food pairing: Baked Oysters, Noble Crustaceans, Scallops Carpaccio, as well as raw and grilled white fish.

Specs

• Region: Loire Valley, more specifically in the Nantais Vineyards, near the Atlantic Ocean, in the village of La Regrippière - east of Vallet.
• Terroir: Silico-argillaceous over micaschists on gentle rolling hillsides. Temperate oceanic climate with a south-east exposure.
• Harvest: Hand-harvesting respectful of the fruit’s integrity.
• Winemaking: Smooth pneumatic press of the grapes. Then, the juice is left to settle between 12 and 18 hours at a low temperature.
• Traditional alcoholic fermentation with temperature control at 16-17°C. Aged on thin lees for 14 months in concrete underground vats (typical of the Nantais region) with no racking. Lees stirring is made regularly at the beginning of the maturation period.
• Alcohol: 12%
• Best serve chilled: 50 - 53 Fahrenheit

2020 Domaine Des Tilleuls “Essentielle” Muscadet, Sèvre et Maine, France

Tasting Notes

This Muscadet will entice you with its aromas of fresh citrus fruits and flowery notes endowed with a mineral freshness. It has been bottled directly off its lees which gives extra character and finesse to the wine.

Pale gold color, green hues, lemony accents, and mandarin, iodized background. The palate is clean and fresh. Pleasant balance between a generous substance, a good acidulous fruit, and a long sappy and toned finish.

Food pairing: Fresh oysters, shellfish, and crustaceans, or put simply on its own.

Specs

• Made from 100% Melon de Bourgogne
• Region: Loire Valley, more specifically in the Nantais vineyards, near the Atlantic Ocean in the village of La Regrippière, east of the township of Vallet.
• Terroir: Predominantly schists with a silico-argillaceous bottom. Temperate Oceanic climate with a south-east exposure.
• Harvest: Mechanical harvest to reach the optimum maturity.
• Winemaking: Smooth pneumatic press of the grapes. The juice is left to settle between 12 and 18 hours at a low temperature.
• Traditional alcoholic fermentation in concrete underground vats (typical of the Nantais vineyards); temperature-controlled at 14-16°C along with cold fermentation conducive to the development of the aromas. -
• Long ageing on fine lees for 6-7 months with no racking.
• Alcohol: 12%
• Best serve chilled: 50 - 53 Fahrenheit

What’s Included

6-bottles:

• 3x 2020 Domaine Des Tilleuls “Venerables” Muscadet, Sèvre et Maine, France
• 3x 2020 Domaine Des Tilleuls “Essentielle” Muscadet, Sèvre et Maine, France
  Case:
• 6x 2020 Domaine Des Tilleuls “Venerables” Muscadet, Sèvre et Maine, France
• 6x 2020 Domaine Des Tilleuls “Essentielle” Muscadet, Sèvre et Maine, France

Price Comparison

Not all wines for sale on winery website, $294/case MSRP

About The Winery

• Winery Name: Domaine des Tilleuls
• Owners: The Houssin family
• Founded: 1905
• Location: La Regrippière, France

Founded in 1905, Domaine des Tilleuls is a family-owned and operated winery. The adventure of the estate began with a mere five hectares in the locality known as Les Corbetières in the village of La Regrippière. Family winemaking continued up until 1962, when Gabriel Houssin, the grandfather, bought an old farm at Les Tilleuls, where he acquired all the plots of vines as well as the land surrounding the property. After inheriting the estate in 1989, Daniel, his son, went through some major renovations in the winery and in the vineyards to rehabilitate the property. While he was working with his father, they both decided to sell the wine themself in bottle, a real revolution at that time. Today, two generations work closely together as Jérôme returned to work at the family winery in 2012, sharing the same passion for winemaking. Thanks to a recognized savoir-faire, between tradition and modernity, the winemaking philosophy is to produce elegantly-textured Muscadet de Sèvre et Maine as well as premium Loire wines such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon-Blanc & Cabernet-Franc that reflect the terroir and proud sense of place.

Available States

AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY

Estimated Delivery

Monday, Dec 1 - Tuesday, Dec 2

Domaine Des Tilleuls French Muscadets
6 bottles for $64.99 $10.83/bottle + $1.33/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $99.99 $8.33/bottle + $1/bottle shipping

2020 Domaine Des Tilleuls “Venerables” Muscadet
2020 Domaine Des Tilleuls “Essentielle” Muscadet