Famille Lieubeau, Muscadet

What a romantic history there is to the family name. In 1816 Joseph Grégoire was apparently abandoned under the porch of the Hotel Dieu in Nantes. Those who took him in gave him the name Lieubeau meaning ‘beautiful place’, that where he was left. Today the domaine is run by descendants Pierre and Chantal Lieubeau together with daughter Marie and sons François and Vincent, a qualified oenologist.
They have 70 ha (173 acres) of vines at the confluence of the Sèvre and Maine, split between the schist slopes opposite St-Fiacre and the granite and gneiss of Château Thebaud. Half of the vineyard is now certified organic and the other half is maintained under Terra Vitis sustainable farming.

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Famille Lieubeau, Clisson 2018 Muscadet-Sèvre et Maine

17/20
Full bottle is an unnecessary, embossed 1,520 g.

Made from 50-year-old vines grownnear the town of Clisson. Hand-picked grapes from hand-tilled soils on granite. Aged for two years on lees.
Deep gold. Mmm, real tension, interest and quality here! (And I haven’t tasted it yet.)Lightly smoky. Really dense and rich. Pungent but still lively and youthful. Green-fruit flavours. Long.
13% Drink 2020–2027

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Famille Lieubeau, La Fruitière Sur Lie 2020 Muscadet-Sèvre et Maine

15/20
Full bottle 1,120 g.
Clean and vital on the nose with quite a piercing aroma. Then rather soft fruit. Very approachable and easy with very light astringency on the finish.
12% Drink 2021–2023

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Famille Lieubeau, La Fruitière Vignes Blanches 2020 IGP Val de Loire

16/20
Blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon and Melon grown on granite and gneiss. Certified TerraVitis like all of the Lieubeau wines.
Lots of grip and personality on the nose. Good that it’s a blend of varieties which gives it distinction. Medium weight with excellent fruit intensity on the palate. The Sauvignon may just be winning the race for my attention at the moment. Interesting wine with good structure. I wouldn’t be afraid to hang on to this for a little while.
12% Drink 2021–2025