2016 Domaine de l'Ecu 'Mephisto' Cabernet Franc, Vin de France

Domaine de l'Ecu has been one of the most important voices in reigniting our passion for Muscadet in the 21st century. No longer just a cheap café wine, Muscadet is one of the world's great values for the wine world's most transparent soil-to-glass transfers. It has the unique ability to deliver that leesy, saline minerality we love in Chablis, but in an often half-priced package. Â Domaine de l'Ecu is one of the OG organic/biodynamic viticulturalists in the Loire Valley, and they've pioneered that way of viticulture for nearly a half century. The estate has also led the way for bottling wines by soil types in the Muscadet region. Today, we have the Orthogneiss, a 550cs production single soil type Muscadet that is one of the treasures of the region. Drink if you like Chablis or any other lean, salty, mineral-driven styles. Second, you'll find the Mephisto, one of the estate's more paradigm-shifting styles. Yes, there is Cabernet Franc in the Loire Valley, but it's usually perfected far to the East of the Pays Nantais' brisk coastal temperatures. It's an edgy, savory bottling of amphora-aged, 55-year old vine Cabernet Franc from a single 3.5ha parcel in the area.