Region: Muscadet, Loire, France

Varietal: Melon de Bourgogne

Price: $7.99 at Total Wine

Sight: pale yellow

Smell: lemon, jasmine, gravel

Taste: lemon, orange zest, floral, mineral, crisp

Overall:  I paired this wine with spicy cajun fish in a dill cream sauce, cooked asparagus, and my beautiful friend Nicole.  She had found a recipe on Pinterest and when we decided we were going to get together and cook it, I remembered this wine.  It’s a new Muscadet that we got in about a month or so ago at work, and aside from being one of my Top Favorite White Wines of All Time, Muscadet is a classic pairing for fish.  I was optimistic about the fruitiness of this wine working with the spicy seasonings, and was not disappointed.  We baked the fish with lemon slices on top—and this wine was like an extra squeeze of lemon.  On the nose, there’s this gravelly minerality that keeps the aromas very clean; think about a clean slate stone drenched in a citrusy, flowery perfume.  Upon the first sip, that minerality turns racy and sharpens the flavors directly towards the center of the palate.  As they land, I taste more lemony goodness, a bit of orange peel, and white flowers.  The acidity is nice and bright and provides a fresh finish.  This is a straightforward, simple wine that might just be what you’re looking for this summer.  Thinking about Pinot Grigio?  Think again—Muscadet is your avenue.  You’ll get a better wine at (probably) a lower price.  Befriend Muscadet this summer—you’ll be glad you did.

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