Château de la Gravelle ‘Queue de Morue’ Muscadet S&M 2020

Vinification

Some of the oldest vineyard ground in the Muscadet, a gentle slope of volcanic rock (gabbro) covered with a thin layer of clay. Organic farming since 2014. Traditional Muscadet vinification with ageing sur lie in glass-tiled vats for 5-6 months, after which it is aged another year in bottle.

Vignobles Günther-Chéreau

Véronique Günther-Chéreau has run her family’s large estate – with vineyard holdings throughout the Muscadet Sèvre et Maine appellation and centred around three separate chateaux – since 1989. From the beginning, she has sought faithful expressions of her different terroirs (gneiss, gabbro, and mica-schist) and aimed to show the complexity and ageing potential of good Muscadet.

Now Veronique’s daughter Aurore has joined her at the helm, and as the reigns are passed on to the next generation new ambitions come into focus. Since she started in 2011 Aurore has overseen the conversion to organic agriculture of an increasing acreage of the vineyard, most of which still supplies a number of separate cuvées. However, aware of the possibilities for even greater terroir expression the family is working to expand these practices further throughout their operation.