ALEXANDRE DÉRAMÉ La Morandiére Muscadet '24

Alexandre Déramé farms the family estate Domaine de la Morandière in Mouzillon (Mouzillon-Tillières), a highly regarded village in the eastern part of the Muscadet Sèvre et Maine appellation. The vineyards sit on gabbro bedrock — a hard, magnesium- and iron-rich igneous rock — with sandy-silty topsoil. This volcanic-influenced terroir gives the wines exceptional power, tension, and minerality.

Déramé is a meticulous, low-yield grower (among the lowest in the region) who trained in enology in Nantes. He is gradually converting the estate to organic farming (started in earnest around 2023, aiming for full certification). Everything is naturally fermented, with no malolactic fermentation, gentle filtration, and minimal sulfur added only after fermentation.

• Expect a vibrant, energetic young Muscadet with bright citrus (lemon zest, lime), green apple, white flowers, wet stone, and saline minerality. The palate is linear and focused, with mouthwatering acidity, a dense core of flavor, and a long, savory, slightly smoky finish. It balances freshness with serious structure and texture for the price.

This is no simple, lean Muscadet — it's a serious, "overdoses on minerality, tension, and texture" wine that punches well above its weight. It's ready to drink now but will gain complexity with a bit of time in bottle.