2021 Alphonse Mellot Sancerre La Moussiere, Loire Valley

An impressive 2021 with quite ripe, rich, mouth-filling fruit with notes of grapefruit. Currently it is a little tight in the well-balanced finish, but I expect the young 2021 will develop further in bottle. Around 50% of La Moussière is barrel fermented.” 

91 points Jim Budd decanter.com

Biodynamic. La Moussière is one of the great vineyards of the Loire Valley. With incredibly rocky, limestone-rich soils, this gently rolling vineyard lies on the ancient Saint-Doulchard marls, which form a part of the great Kimmeridgian chain (à la Chablis). Coupled with Mellot's meticulous biodynamic farming and low yields, it’s a terroir responsible for some of Sancerre's most striking and atypical wines.
 
As usual, 50% of this wine underwent fermentation in huge wooden fermenters and was raised in oak casks—a fact that in no way compromises the fabulous purity and energy on offer. The balance of the wine was fermented and raised in traditional concrete vats before blending. All the wine was aged on fine lees for a period of roughly 12 months, further enhancing the wine's famously deep and pulpy texture.
 
Reminiscent of topflight Chablis, those who crave flesh, purity and tension in their white wines will be well advised to jump aboard. According to the year, it’s a potent yet fine-boned rendition, with a beautiful weave of lemon pith and white peach. Layers of silky texture are balanced by threads of wet stone minerality, spicy freshness and a long, saline finish. A great Moussière.