Gula-Ana 2023, Muscadet Luneau-Papin | Loire

Domaine Luneau-Papin 's Gula Ana cuvée draws its character from the volcanic terroir of the historic locality of La Butte de la Roche, overlooking the Nantes vineyards in the heart of the Loire. This cru communal Goulaine in the Muscadet Sèvre & Maine appellation is made from a massal selection of Melon de Bourgogne vines, planted in 1974 on altered peridotite and serpentinite rocks. Domaine Luneau Papin cultivates these volcanic soils using organic and biodynamic methods, and harvests exclusively by hand. Winemaking involves whole-grape pressing, followed by spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts, and ageing for some twenty months in vitrified concrete vats placed underground. The signature of Domaine Luneau Papin gives this wine a full, structured look that promises long, beautiful cellaring.

Philippe Mischler, sommelier at Mundovin : The cuvée Gula Ana from Domaine Luneau-Papin was a real revelation for me. It's a haute couture Muscadet , whose almost two years of maturation in the cellar have refined its balance to the point where it reaches the pinnacle of aromatic development and terroir expression. The wine opens generously, but its balance suggests that it could evolve over a good ten years.

On the nose, the wine first presents precise scents of ripe white fruit, elegant white flowers and hints of fresh citrus. A discreet hint of almond adds subtle complexity, coupled with a stony minerality that structures the bouquet without detracting from its richness.

On the palate, the wine is beautifully concentrated, structured by an immediately expressive minerality. The acid framework is fantastically lively, perfectly supporting the richness and density of the white fruit. A fine bitterness stimulates the palate on the finish, whose elegantly taut persistence suggests a long, fine ageing potential for this remarkable cuvée. A Muscadet Sèvre & Maine of great emotion!