TECHNICAL INFO

Varietal/Blend:  100% Melon de Bourgogne

ABV:  12.0%

Vineyard:  Les Pierres Blanches 2023 comes from a historic single vineyard in the village of La Chapelle-Heulin, facing the original cellars of the Bonneau-Papin family. Planted in 1954, this treasured plot lies on a hillside with a mother rock of gneiss threaded with rolled quartz, a terroir long recognized by generations of Papin winegrowers.
The 2023 vintage was marked by a balanced rhythm of spring warmth, midsummer rains, and late-season heat, requiring close vineyard attention to preserve freshness and terroir clarity.
Farming is fully natural: no chemical inputs are used, and the soil is enlivened with biodynamic treatments like horn dung (500) in spring and horn silica (501) as needed before harvest. Vines are pruned gently in winter (single Guyot) and planted at 6,500 vines per hectare. Harvest is entirely manual, with careful sorting done in the vineyard before pressing.

Cellar: Spontaneous fermentation using only natural yeasts. Fermentation and maturation on lees in
underground glass lined vats during 16 months without racking until bottling in february 2025.

CSPC:  128790

Winemakers Note: Serve at 12°C
Langoustines, ceviche of scallops, salt crusted sea bass, fresh goat’s cheese.

What the Critics are saying: Like Le Verger, Les Pierre Blanches also hails from La Chapelle-Heulin, only here the vines are rooted into a terroir of gneiss and rolled quartz pebbles. I find a beautiful lees-influenced nose here, suggesting a silky confidence, with notes of powdered lemon zest, white stone and crushed minerals, all framed by a smoky and reductive character. The palate is no less svelte and integrated than the nose, with an outer surface of polished limestone, within a core of fresh lemon meringue, white chocolate, pepper and white peach. What an absolute delight this is. 92-94/100 (Chris Kissack, Winedoctor, February 2025

Let’s step up in vinosity. Les Pierres Blanches (gneiss) affirms its tasty shoulders, as does Clos de l’Allée (micaschistes), with a remarkable mouthwatering dimension. Its umami flavor outlines with precision the features in the mouth.
Guide Vert RVF 2025 by Alexis Goujard

Les Pierres Blanches 2012. White fruits, grapefruit, full on the palate, oiliness, lots of volume, bright, chalky.
Le Point March 2014

An outstanding success. Great density and depth, a ripe and
sappy wine which holds up a rich and nuanced body. A fairly
compact Muscadet, with great potential, for which you will
need to know how to be patient. Superb saline finish.
RVF Magazine Special 2012

TECHNICAL INFO

Country:  France

Region:  Pays Nantais, Loire Valley

Appellation:  Muscadet Sèvre & Maine AOC

Climate: 

Altitude: 

Soils: 

Varietal/Blend:  100% Melon de Bourgogne

Fermentation:  Spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts in old oak puncheons.

Ageing: 

Vineyard & Vine Age:  Bull Swamp and Manilla vineyards in Baw Baw Shire. The vines were planted in 1961 and and 1964 respectively.

ABV:  12.0%

Produced Cases:  50

CSPC:  128790