A profound, age-worthy biodynamic Muscadet from old vines, combining ripe citrus and floral complexity with impressive texture, mineral tension and a long, intensely saline finish.

Tasting notes

Appearance: Bright straw yellow, showing more golden depth than a young Muscadet.

Nose: Expressive and complex, with spring flowers, ripe citrus, lemon and grapefruit, followed by subtle dried-fruit and buttery nuances. With aeration, the wine develops more mineral and savoury notes. The 2020 has specifically been described as floral and lightly buttery on the nose.

Palate: Dry and concentrated, with considerably more volume than a conventional Muscadet. The attack is fresh and energetic, with lemon and grapefruit giving way to a broad, fleshy mid-palate. Extended lees ageing provides richness and texture, while the natural acidity and mineral character maintain excellent tension. The finish is particularly long, saline and savoury.

Style: This is serious, gastronomic Muscadet, built for ageing. It combines the freshness and salinity associated with Melon de Bourgogne with the concentration and textural complexity achieved through old vines, low yields and prolonged lees maturation.

Food pairing

This deserves more substantial dishes than the classic oyster-and-Muscadet combination:

Grilled turbot • sea bass • scallops • lobster • monkfish • fish with beurre blanc • poultry • veal • creamy mushroom dishes • aged Comté • mature goat's cheese.

Grilled turbot is an especially good match and is specifically recommended for the 2020. Its lees-derived richness has enough weight for the fish, while the saline acidity cuts through butter-based sauces beautifully.

Positioning within Bonnet-Huteau

Les Bonnets Blancs 2025 → fresh, fruity, crisp and immediately accessible.
Les Gautronnières 2024 → more mineral, structured and terroir-focused.
Cru Goulaine 2020 → Haute Expression: old vines, greater concentration, 24-month lees ageing, complexity and serious cellaring potential.

A profound biodynamic Cru Muscadet from old Melon de Bourgogne vines. Floral and ripe citrus aromas lead to a concentrated, beautifully textured palate with lemon, grapefruit and subtle savoury complexity. Twenty-four months on the lees bring remarkable depth, while vibrant mineral tension drives a long, intensely saline finish.

Technical notes

• Producer: Domaine Bonnet-Huteau
• Cuvée: Cru Goulaine
• Vintage: 2020
• Appellation: AOC Muscadet Sèvre et Maine – Cru Communal Goulaine
• Region: Pays Nantais, Loire Valley, France
• Grape: 100% Melon de Bourgogne
• Vine age: More than 40 years
• Terroir: Shallow soils over green rocks and amphibolites, within the Goulaine river watershed.
• Viticulture: Certified organic (AB/Ecocert) and biodynamic (Biodyvin)
• Harvest: Manual, with extended ripening to achieve greater physiological maturity
• Fermentation: Traditional temperature-controlled vinification
• Yeasts: Indigenous/native yeasts
• Ageing: 18–24 months on the lees
• Serving temperature: Around 12°C
• Drinking window: The 2020 is currently drinking well but has further potential; a vintage-specific source suggests drinking through approximately 2031.
• Decanting: Worth opening 30–60 minutes in advance, especially now, to allow its fruit and mineral complexity to develop.