Grape Varieties
We vinify nearly a dozen different grape varieties.
Melon de Bourgogne: The Essence of Muscadet
Melon de Bourgogne is the undisputed star of the Muscadet AOC. Often referred to as “Melon B.” or simply “Muscadet,” this variety thrives in the Nantes wine region, where it represents the vast majority of our vineyards. Our unique Gabbro terroir, combined with the maritime climate, imparts that distinctive minerality so highly prized by seafood lovers worldwide.
While Melon de Bourgogne produces crisp, dry white wines with bright acidity, it gains remarkable roundness and a delicate “perlant” (natural spritz) when aged on the lees (Sur Lie). This traditional vinification method, used for our sub-regional AOCs and Crus Communaux, significantly enhances its cellaring potential, elevating it to the status of a truly great wine.
Our Melon de Bourgogne cuvées:
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Old Vines Muscadet€5.00 TTC -
Muscadet Sèvre et Maine sur Lie€4.67 TTC
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is one of the world’s most popular grape varieties, renowned for its adaptability to diverse climates and terroirs, making it the most widely cultivated white grape globally. In the Loire Valley IGP, it is traditionally known as Auvernat Blanc, particularly around the Orléans region, and is a key component in Crémant-de-Loire and Saumur Brut sparkling wines.
To preserve its vibrant freshness and its refined, sophisticated character, we choose to vinify our Chardonnay as a single-varietal wine rather than as a blend.
Our Chardonnay cuvées:
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Late-Harvest Chardonnay€4.83 TTC
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Chardonnay Cuvée des Évêques€6.08 TTC
Sauvignon
Sauvignon Blanc is a prestigious grape variety and the world’s most widely cultivated white wine grape. In France, it is primarily grown in the west, most notably in the Loire Valley with iconic appellations such as Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, and Anjou.
It typically produces dry or semi-dry white wines, and more rarely, sweet dessert wines. On the palate, it is characterized by an expressive liveliness and a fruity, thirst-quenching profile that makes it incredibly refreshing.
Our Sauvignon cuvée:
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Sauvignon blanc€4.42 TTC
Merlot
Merlot is France’s most widely planted grape variety and the iconic heart of the Bordeaux wine region, where it represents 65% of the vines and remains inseparable from legends like Petrus and Saint-Émilion. This red grape variety produces powerful, generous wines on the palate with rich red and black fruit aromas. At our estate, we vinify it as a single-varietal to craft a crisp dry rosé, or blend it with Cabernet to create a fruity, off-dry rosé—a luscious and gourmand choice that is perfect for an apéritif.
Our Merlot cuvées:
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Le PIC Rosé in 5L BIB€14.00 TTC
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L’Equilibre Rosé in a 5L Bag-in-Box€16.50 TTC
Pinot noir
An ancient grape variety, Pinot Noir (whose name derives from the cluster’s resemblance to a pine cone), produces a wide range of styles from red wines to sparkling wines like Crémant-de-Loire. At Domaine de l’Aiguillette, we craft a dry rosé with a delicate hue and a highly aromatic palate, as well as a light red wine produced through double fermentation. In the Loire Valley, it is essential to the AOC Sancerre, Touraine, Menetou-Salon, and Reuilly, while in the Orléans region, it is locally known as Auvernat Noir.
Our Pinot Noir cuvées:
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Pinot noir Rosé€4.42 TTC
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Pinot noir€4.83 TTC
Pinot gris
A genetic mutation of Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris is a unique “grey” grape variety known for its multicolored vines that can bear black, pink, and white clusters. Pinot Gris yields vary in sweetness based on the harvest date, producing dry, off-dry, or sweet dessert wines. In the Nantes region, it is traditionally called Malvoisie and used in the AOC Coteaux d’Ancenis. On the palate, it offers elegant floral notes and white fruit aromas like pear and peach.
Our Pinot Gris cuvées:
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Colibri en BIB 5 L€17.00 TTC
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Colibri€4.83 TTC
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc is the oldest red grape variety in France. In the Loire Valley, where it is commonly nicknamed “Breton,” this variety boasts nearly 2,000 years of history and represents 25% of the region’s vines. However, it remains relatively rare in the Nantes wine region, accounting for only 3% of the planted surface. At our estate, we vinify it in a blend with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon to create a fresh and light off-dry rosé.
Our Cabernet France cuvée:
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L’Equilibre Rosé in a 5L Bag-in-Box€16.50 TTC
Cabernet Sauvignon
Although widely grown in the Loire Valley, particularly in the Saumur region, Cabernet Sauvignon remains uncommon in the Nantes vineyards. It is a slow-ripening variety that thrives in warm climates and abundant sunshine. Due to its full-bodied character, Cabernet is never vinified alone here but always as a blend. At our estate, we blend it with Merlot and Cabernet Franc to produce—not a red wine—but a refreshing off-dry rosé! It reveals a luscious nose followed by a fruity palate, making it the perfect companion for your apéritifs.
Our Cabernet Sauvignon cuvée:
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L’Equilibre Rosé in a 5L Bag-in-Box€16.50 TTC
Gewurztraminer
Mainly grown in Alsace, Gewurztraminer is a white grape variety that produces highly aromatic and expressive wines. Its baroque name comes from an ancient Italian variety, the Traminer, combined with the German word “Gewürz” (meaning spice) to describe its aromatic power. Most frequently vinified as a sweet or late-harvest wine, its aromas can develop rich honeyed notes. Our unique siliceous rock terroir imparts very pronounced floral and lychee notes. To avoid confusion with Alsace wines, the mention of Gewurztraminer is strictly regulated on labels for wines without a geographical indication, which is why our cuvée is proudly named “L’Inqualifiable”.
Our Gewurztraminer cuvées:
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L’Inqualifiable in 5L Bag-in-Box€18.50 TTC
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L’Inqualifiable€5.00 TTC
54/55 (Plantet)
The 54/55 grape variety, also known as Plantet, is a forgotten heirloom variety celebrated for its natural resistance to vine diseases. This hardy variety allows us to almost entirely eliminate the use of phytosanitary products.
When vinified as a rosé, it produces a dry yet highly aromatic wine, perfectly balanced with distinctive notes of liquorice and citrus. You will enjoy it just as much as an apéritif as you will paired with savory white meat dishes.
Our 54/55 (Plantet) Cuvées:
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Le Cépage Oublié in a 5L Bag-in-Box€15.00 TTC
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Le Cépage Oublié (The Forgotten Grape)€4.58 TTC
Léon Millot
Léon Millot is another rare grape variety, created in 1911 and once widely grown in Alsace, where it has nearly vanished. It remains highly popular in the Northern United States and Canada, as it is a vigorous, early-ripening variety perfectly suited to cold climates. Once vinified, it produces a “clairet” style wine with a vibrant violet hue and intense fruit flavors, especially cherry. We recommend pairing it with grilled white meats—to be enjoyed chilled, just like a rosé!
Our Léon Millot Cuvée:
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Late-Harvest Chardonnay€4.83 TTC