Organic and biodynamic agriculture

Excelsior 2021

Grape Variety :

Plot Profile : Vineyard parcel in the village of La Chapelle-Heulin. Vines planted in 1936, massal selection (no clones). Bedrock of schist and mica schist. Located in the lieu-dit “La Plécisière”, parcel “Les Noëlles”.

AOP :

Winemaking Techniques : Whole-cluster pressing in a pneumatic press, with duration and intensity adjusted according to the vintage. Spontaneous alcoholic fermentation using indigenous yeasts. Aged for 12 months in underground concrete tanks lined with glass tiles, followed by 12 months in 1,500 L foudres, before bottling in summer 2023.

Tasting : Serving temperature: 12°C.
Food pairing: Brown crab (spider crab) meat served in its shell, chilled and enhanced with a creamy coral-based emulsion. Smoked blue lobster with a beurre blanc emulsion.

Packaging : Loire sommelier bottle available in 750 mL and 1,500 mL formats. Cases of 6 or 12 bottles.

Vineyard care through the seasons

Traditional spring vineyard work (de-earthing and hoeing) has been carried out across the entire estate since 2009. We care for our vines using natural preparations (no synthetic products) and sow a cover crop (legumes and cereals), adapted to each parcel at the end of summer. Soil life is stimulated using Horn Manure (Preparation 500), applied in spring in one to two passes, and Horn Silica (Preparation 501) after flowering and, if needed, before harvest. During winter, the vines are pruned short using the single Guyot method. Vineyard density is 6,500 vines per hectare. A careful selection of grapes is carried out in the vineyard by the harvesters.

Tasting

Serving temperature: 12°C.
Food pairing: Brown crab (spider crab) meat served in its shell, chilled and enhanced with a creamy coral-based emulsion. Smoked blue lobster with a beurre blanc emulsion.

Press

The Excelsior cuvée, from schist soils in the communal cru of Goulaine and aged on its lees, expresses minerality in its noblest form. Looking back over time highlights its consistency and regularity across vintages. One of the most refined estates in the Nantes wine region. Bettane & Desseauve Guide 2022

In more solar tones, two 2020 wines are worth discovering: Gula-Ana, with a fine structure, stimulating bitterness and notes of ripe white fruits; and Excelsior, with an even greater vivid depth that promises a serene aging potential of more than fifteen years. RVF Guide Vert 2023

Domaine Luneau-Papin, Excelsior 2014. The flagship wine of this quality-focused estate, from vines located at the heart of the Goulaine cru. Marie Luneau describes the 2014 vintage as “always elegant”, and at seven years old, the wine is truly hitting its stride. A smoky, mineral nose leads into a tight, focused palate with savory, juicy acidity and a rich, saline finish. Enormous concentration and length, with remarkable intensity. Now certified biodynamic. Drink 2022–2037. Decanter – May 2022