Fall Flavors Inspired by France’s Loire: Muscadet and Savennieres Paired with Grilled Oysters, Baked Brie, Roasted Figs #Winophiles

Fall Flavors Inspired by France’s Loire: Muscadet, Savennieres

How do you transition from summer to fall? After Labor Day, do you leave your white shoes and your white wines behind? With a Winophiles prompt for Fall Flavors from France, we thought it would be fun to revisit our Fall 2019 visit to the Loire,

but not feature our beloved expected red wines like cabernet franc but our beloved white wines of the region: Muscadet (aka Melon de Bourgogne) and Savennieres (aka Chenin Blanc) with summer foods refocused for fall!

Instead of raw oysters, as we head toward fall’s cooler weather, consider oysters grilled with garlic, parsley and parmesan. On your cheese board, how about baked brie with a drizzle of lavender honey graced by lavender florets? Instead of fresh goat cheese, how about goat cheese marinated in herbs, peppercorns, and oil? We also did a umami rich salad of fresh ripe garden tomatoes with olives and pine nuts to help us transition from these final warm days of summer to the first days of frisky fall. 

Fall Flavors Inspired by France’s Loire: Muscadet, Savennieres

Loire White Wines

  • 2017 Marquis de Goulaine Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine Sur Lie AOC “Le Puy Ferrand”

  • 2020 Chateau d’Épiré, AOC Savennières

Menu

  • grilled oysters with garlic, parsley
  • baked brie with lavender honey
  • roasted figs with blue cheese
  • heated sourdough with marinated goat cheese with peppercorns and herbs
  • green salad with fresh tomatoes, basil flowers, fennel flowers, Purple Haze cheese, pine nuts 

 

Loire: 2017 Marquis de Goulaine Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine Sur Lie AOC “Le Puy Ferrand”

2017 Marquis de Goulaine Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine Sur Lie AOC “Le Puy Ferrand” 

ABV: 13%
SRP: $23
Grapes: 100% Melon de Bourgogne
Imported by: Advantage International
sample for my review; thank you!

According to the importer, “the year Chateau de Goulaine property began producing wine makes this the oldest wine- making firm still in service. It is reportedly the third oldest producer in the world, and the oldest of Europe. The estate is one of the last Loire chateau that still produces wine.”

Appearance:  Golden buttercup, daffodil, yellow rim.

Aroma: Brioche, green apple, apple danish; quite a richness to the aroma. 

Palate: So creamy without being buttery, so soft and elegant, such a fantastic mouthfeel, clean, sage, chamomile, fennel, toffee, so nicely balanced between acidity and richness, toasted pine nuts, roasted pineapple, long lingering exotic finish.

Pairing: Very nice with the blue cheese figs. While the baked brie works fine with the wine, it was not as happy with the honey; it would prefer the baked brie and bread on its own. Surprisingly, it did however appreciate the rind on the brie. This wine loved the salad as well the rich umami of garden ripened tomato which is equally enhanced and elevated by the rich creamy wine. Big rich creamy flavors in oysters matched the rich creamy intensity of the wine. 

2020 Chateau d’Épiré, AOC Savennières

2020 Chateau d’Épiré, AOC Savennières

ABV: 13%
SRP: $28
Grapes: Chenin Blanc
Imported by: Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant
sample for my review; thank you!

AOC Savennieres is famous for Chenin blanc (known locally as Pineau de la Loire which totally tripped us upon a few years ago when we thought we thought we had a most unusual sauvignon blanc but guess what it was?) The Bizard family of Chateau d’Épiré has cultivated vines for six generations on schist and sandstone terroir; that Savennières terroir produces wines with lively acidity and minerality that evolves with age. We respect Kermit Lynch for constantly and consistently importing wines with a solid sustainability story.

Appearance:  Golden, gold jewelry, platinum rim.

Aroma: Lemon, herbs, ripe pear, white flowers, lemon grass, cardamon. 

Palate: Lovely viscous mouthfeel, pear, white flower, cardamon, and a beautiful finish, while food will be fantastic with this wine, it is fantastic on its own. Clean and balanced. 

Pairing: Excellent with the blue cheese figs, baked brie with lavender and raw honey was exceptional with the wine. Great with the salad the pine nuts and the fennel pollen enhance the wine nicely and the rich tomato umami is cleansed and brightened by a following sip. When oysters are prepared on the grill, they become so creamy and umami rich which pairs perfectly with the bright acidity in the wine. 

 

Take a look below at the ideas my fellow French Winophiles have shared as well as articles from our visit:

Plus

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