2021 Jo Landron Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Les Houx, Loire Valley

This cuvée comes from vines planted on sandy soils, and the élevage was in a mix of amphorae and cement cuves. It feels immediately pure and smoky on the nose, with seams of crushed rocks and minerals. This is followed by a linear and delicately bitter palate, with layers of salty and herby fruit, and fine acidity. A confident finish completes the picture. This is good; give it a year or two in bottle to see it at its best.

91 points Chris Kissack thewinedoctor.com

Jo Landron Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Les Houx from the Loire Valley is a stunningly pure, mineral-driven white wine that captures the essence of Atlantic France in every sip. Crafted from 100% Melon de Bourgogne grown organically on rocky, siliceous soils, Les Houx is one of Jo Landron’s signature cuvées—intensely expressive, textural, and saline, with all the energy you expect from the very best Muscadet.

Jo Landron, one of the Loire’s most respected biodynamic pioneers, has been farming his estate in the Sèvre et Maine subregion for decades. Located just southeast of Nantes, the estate lies within reach of the Atlantic, and the maritime influence plays a major role in shaping the style of his wines. Les Houx comes from old vines rooted in sandstone and gneiss soils, which give the wine its intense minerality and crystalline precision.

The grapes are hand-harvested and gently pressed before undergoing a slow fermentation with indigenous yeasts. The wine is then aged on its lees in underground glass-tiled tanks for about 12 months, a traditional Muscadet technique that imparts depth, roundness, and complexity without losing freshness.

In the glass, Les Houx is bright and vibrant with aromas of lemon peel, green apple, sea spray, and crushed shell. The palate is lean yet textured, with taut citrus, white peach, and a long, savoury, almost smoky mineral finish. There's an electric tension here—a wine that crackles with life and pairs beautifully with oysters, grilled fish, or goat cheese.

This is not your everyday Muscadet—Les Houx is a serious white wine with depth and ageability, crafted by one of the region’s true masters of terroir.