The quest: interesting white wines that don't say "Chardonnay" on the label; aren't over-extracted, over-oaked, or over-produced; DO work wonderfully with food; DO resemble or are typical of the region of origin; and are affordable for frequent enjoyment. Sounds like a tough assignment, but it isn't really. All it takes is spending a few extra minutes in your local wine shop, and keeping your eyes peeled. First, walk past the over-hyped bottles adorned with pretty signs, colorful bunting, and obnoxious display pieces (i.e., ox carts, mobiles, TV screens, etc.). Next, talk to the person or people who work at the shop. You'll be pleased to find out that they are only too happy to steer you to something off the beaten path---maybe one of their own favorites. Pioneers such as Lewis and Clark had the chutzpah to discover an unknown land now known as the USA---so find some boldness within yourself and explore new trails in your favorite wine shop!
Maybe you'll stumble upon a gem with the label Muscadet. Huh? You don't like sweet wine? No worries. Muscadet (moose-kuh-DAY) has nothing to do with the grape Muscat (which is often the base for sweet dessert wines). Muscadet is one of the great underrated wine regions of France, located in the Loire and producing dry whites that happen to go very nicely with the local oysters and shellfish. There are many neutral (i.e., boring) wines made there, but many excellent come out also. The trick is to find two things on the label: "Muscadet de Sevre et Maine"---this means the wine comes from the best appellation, between the rivers Sevre and Maine---and "Sur Lie", which indicates the wine was left on its lees. We're not talking about bluejeans here, it's a winemaking technique of leaving the juice on the grape remains. The concept can get pretty technical; the main thing for you to remember is that "Sur Lie" means the wine will be richer and more flavorful than a Muscadet without "Sur Lie" (at least in theory).
Quality wines from Muscadet are more serious than simple, but not so serious you need to think about them. Lively acidity and a mineral quality are hallmarks, and also make the wine easy to match with a variety of foods. If you like real Chablis (AC), Pinot Grigio, Sancerre, or similarly medium-bodied whites, you will probably enjoy a Muscadet---and you'll pay a few dollars less. |
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