Jo Landron Domaine de la Louvetrie Le Melonix, Loire, Vin de France

Melonix was born out of an exploration with SO2. While Jo Landron appreciates the wine, he feels it is more reflective of vinification than of terroir. Since it is atypical of Muscadet appellation (and of his terroirs), he bottles it as Vin de France. Broader than most wines of the region, it shows a creamy texture or lactic quality that results from the malolactic fermentation. “Melonix” is a play on the word Melon (de Bourgogne). Adding “ix” to the name of the grape variety is a nod to the proximity of Nantes and Muscadet to Brittany, the epicenter of Historic Galois culture (and the theme of famed French cartoon Asterix & Obelix). Organic and biodynamic farming; hand-harvested. Indigenous yeast fermentation with no added sugar or sulfur. Uniquely, mailolactic fermentation takes place. Aged six months on the fine lees. The wine is bottled unfiltered and with no pumping whtsoever.