Château de la Ragotière, Vallet, Muscadet Sèvre et Maine, Loire, France, 2014

The vineyards are located in a maritime climate south of the Loire River, 30 miles from the Atlantic Ocean. 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. This climate is important in creating the character of the wines and imbues them with real originality.

Whereas most Muscadets are left on the lees only a short time, all of the Ragotière 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. Ragotière bottles no earlier than April, allowing time for the lees to nourish the wine and define its character. In the cellar, Ragotière concentrates on bringing out the character of the wines using pneumatic pressing, cold maceration to improve aromas, and controlled-temperature fermentation and other techniques to develop body. To enable them to reach full maturity, the Muscadets are matured for about one year on fine lees.