Domaine de la Pépière : Monnières-Saint Fiacre 2022

Tasting notes and recommendations for the Monnières-Saint Fiacre 2022 from Domaine de la Pépière

Tasting

Color

The wine displays a crystalline hue of remarkable purity.

Nose

The nose is promising, with aromas of ripe fruit and lemony notes. Fragrances of candied citrus and white-fleshed fruit unfold with elegance.

Palate

The palate reveals a creamy texture and a generous structure. A taut, precise framework defines this wine, carried by a mineral backbone of great straightness. Refreshing bitterness and hints of citrus bring lift and energy. The saline finish and pronounced length underscore the complexity of this cuvée. Energy and smoothness balance harmoniously in this 2022 vintage, which flows as effortlessly as spring water.

Food and wine pairings

This Monnières-Saint Fiacre 2022 is a perfect match for fish and seafood, as well as shellfish. It also pairs beautifully with gourmet cheeses and Asian cuisine.

Serving and cellaring

Monnières-Saint Fiacre 2022 can be enjoyed now and will continue to evolve favorably over several years, showcasing exceptional aging potential for a Muscadet.

A cellar-worthy Muscadet Sèvre et Maine, a pure expression of gneiss terroir

The estate

Founded in 1984 by Marc Ollivier in the hamlet of la Pépière in Maisdon-sur-Sèvre (Loire-Atlantique), Domaine de la Pépière now spans around 45 hectares. Since 2020, Rémi Branger and Gwénaëlle Croix have led this pioneering estate for organic and biodynamic viticulture in Muscadet. Certified organic since 2010 and Biodyvin since 2018, the estate stands out for its innovative parcel-by-parcel winemaking approach based on geological terroirs. Marc Ollivier was one of the first winemakers to elevate the expression of Muscadet terroirs, inspiring an entire generation of Loire producers.

The vineyard

The vines for this Monnières-Saint Fiacre cuvée are around 60 years old and planted on an exceptional terroir of two-mica gneiss. The gneiss subsoil is covered with fine-textured silty-sandy soils, rich in silica and clay. The Monnières-Saint Fiacre communal cru benefits from moderate earliness and fertility, allowing for steady ripening. Wind-swept slopes naturally keep the vines healthy. This Muscadet Sèvre et Maine estate practices hand harvesting—rare in the region—and farms its vines in certified biodynamics without herbicides, using plowing and plant-based preparations gathered along the banks of the Maine.

The vintage

The 2022 year is marked by its sunny character, which enabled optimal grape ripeness. This vintage offers remarkable balance between richness and freshness, expressing a crystalline purity in the estate’s wines.

Vinification and aging

The Monnières-Saint Fiacre 2022 grapes are harvested by hand with meticulous care and then gently transported to the cellar. The pneumatic press is filled by gravity, without crushing the grapes. After light settling, the juice ferments naturally thanks to the indigenous yeasts present on the grape skins, with no addition of cultured yeasts. Fermentation takes place in glass-lined underground vats for one to two months. Extended aging on fine lees lasts between 24 and 36 months, during which the dead yeasts transform into glycerol and aromatic compounds, giving the wine its rich texture, toasted aromas, and notes of candied fruit. The wine is bottled without filtration.

Grape variety

100% Melon de Bourgogne