The vast and diverse Loire Valley stretches from Chablis in the east to the Atlantic in the west; this castle-dotted, riverside paradise has countless treasures that demand a fraction of the price of their more famous compatriots. The Loire’s four sub-regions begin with Pays Nantais in the west; here the locals call Muscadet ‘Melon de Bourgogne.' The river then heads east across Anjou-Saumur and Touraine, known for world-class Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc, and concludes in the Central Vineyards, where the most classic examples of Sauvignon Blanc reside. This Muscadet hails from the westernmost sub-region of Pays Nantais, just alongside the Atlantic. The most important appellation in Muscadet is Sevre-et-Maine, named for the two rivers that converge there; this is the special pocket of the Loire that Château de la Morandiere calls home.  

The Château’s 35–year-old winemaker, Alexandre Dermae, a third generation vigneron, is a confident yet humble auteur of wine. He oversees virtually all aspects of the vineyard and the cellar with a keen focus on every detail. The Vieille Vignes Estate, in La Roches Gaudinières, is known for its high concentration of Gabbro, a metallic, hard volcanic rock, and which is also mixed with silex and quartz; it gives life to vines that are over eighty years old. These vines are tended organically; Dermae is one of only fifteen producers in the appellation who farms organically. He is also known for maintaining one of the lowest yields in all of Pays Nantais, which accounts for the incredible concentration in his wines. Hand-harvesting and hand-sorting are compulsory at Château de la Morandiere. The wine is aged on the lees (sur lie) for a staggering 24 months in cement tanks, then is racked into stainless and aged for another year. The result is an immense texture, refined and focused minerality, crisp acidity and pitch-perfect balance.