Muscadet is for Lovers

France is the example when it comes to citrus flavored, mineral driven, dry white wines that can split one's tongue with it's razor like acidity.  That being so dramatically put, one automatically leans to Chablis, Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume.  Why ? These are wines of familiarity, quite easy to pronounce and one may for a moment appear like they know a thing or two.  However, there is one wine that falls through the cracks.  The wine is the Phillip Seymour Hoffman in 'The Talented Mr. Ripely' or the Paul Giamatti in 'Saving Private Ryan.' Everyone knows they exist but no one pays any attention to their talent.

This morning with the astute Jo Landron of 'Domaine de Louvetrie'

The hidden talent is Muscadet Sevre et Maine or just Muscadet. Hailing from the grape Melon de Bourgogne in the Nantes region of the Loire Valley.  A fresh wine, known from its salinity, citrus notes and minerality.  Unfortunatley, Muscadet has plenty of vapid examples so stick to one of these five producers; Andre-Michel Bregeon, Domaine De L'Ecu (Guy Bossard), Domaine Pierre de la Grange (Luneau-Papin), Domaine de la Louvetrie (Jo Landron) and Domaine de la Pepiere (Marc Ollivier).   These rarely pass or approach $50 on a wine list and fine examples are displayed at $15 in wine shops. Act like you know a thing or two and order a Muscadet, the sommelier will probably pause and give you a nod.