One grower has emerged as perhaps Muscadet’s most dynamic and nuanced terroir translator: Jérôme Bretaudeau. Growing up in the region, Jérôme always knew that a life in the vines was his calling. He worked for... Read More

One grower has emerged as perhaps Muscadet’s most dynamic and nuanced terroir translator: Jérôme Bretaudeau. Growing up in the region, Jérôme always knew that a life in the vines was his calling. He worked for a few years with Landron before setting out on his own. With a fervent commitment to natural farming (certified Biodynamic since 2016) and an innovative, thoughtful approach to fermentation, élevage, and even grape variety, Bretaudeau’s wines are in a class of their own, inspired by but unbound by local rules and tradition. He interprets the complex geology of Muscadet in ingenious and stunningly delicious ways.

Where Jérôme really sets himself apart though is with his savvy use of non-traditional fermentation and aging vessels including concrete eggs and amphorae along with the classic stainless steel and oak barrels. The wines often have a touch of fine-grained reduction which supports their explosive aromatic intensity. They are tightly wound and quite tense at the outset but with just a touch of air, the wines unfurl layers of ripe white and yellow stone fruits with a crystalline mineral crunch that verges on tannic. These are wines of pure energy and they’re a total joy to drink.