Domaine des Herbauges, 2017 Update
Although the majority of domaines of interest in the Muscadet region are to be found in the Muscadet Sèvre et Maine appellation, the other two subregional appellations should not be overlooked. This is especially true of the Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu appellation, where the Choblet cousins – Jérôme Choblet (pictured) at Domaine des Herbauges and Nicolas & Hervé at Domaine du Haut Bourg – are some of the most notable names.
I met up with Jérôme Choblet in January 2017 to find out about the 2016 vintage and to taste this latest vintage before the wines hit the market.
The 2016 Vintage
Every report on the 2016 vintage is going to begin with the story of the April frost, one of the most devastating to hit the region in recent years. Around the Lac de Grandlieu temperatures dropped below freezing for four nights, and although the temperatures were not super low – just -1ºC according to Jérôme – this was sufficient to inflict significant damage. At Domaine des Herbauges about 50% of the crop was lost. Says Jérôme:
“It wasn’t a regular vintage. We lost a lot in the frost, and then we had a lot of rain in April and May, and mildew was a threat. The vines needed a lot of work, but with that effort and then good weather later in the year we got quality and concentration. From the middle of June through to the end of September we had sunshine and warm but not hot weather. This was very important for our vineyard. In the end we had a very intense concentration of fruit and minerality, and balanced wines.”
