Producer: Jérémie Huchet and Jérémie Mourat (Les Betes Curieuses)
Region: Loire, France
Varietals: Melon de Bourgogne
Viticulture: Organic
Category: White
Size: 750ml
Founded in 2005 by the talented winemaking duo of Jérémie Huchet and Jérémie Mourat, Les Betes Curieuses is a collaboration to explore the distinct terroirs of Muscadet and showcase a more serious and ageworthy side of the region. Jérémie Mourat, owner of J. Mourat in the Vendee initially met Jérémie Huchet, whose winery is located in Muscadet, through a shared interest in organic viticulture. Huchet, based in Chateau Thebaud, was heavily influenced in his approach by Marc Olivier from Domane Pepiere and draws on generations of experience in knowing the best sites of the region. While Muscadet has long been recognized as one of the world's great value wines, there is so much more to the region. The cru communaux (communal crus) were initially set up in 2011 and now total 11 in number (as of 2017). These are distinct crus (think cru Beaujolais for a good analog) founded on the basis of their unique soil types whose wines are surrounded the very best expressions of Muscadet. Lower yields and longer aging on lees (a minimum of 18 months on the lees and 2 years total elevage is required) help to ensure only the very best wines carry the cru names on them. The Curious Beasts vinified the crus separately using the same farming and winemaking techniques for each. Only 1% of all Muscadet is cru communaux. They focus on old, head-trained vines (most are more than 50 years old), organic farming, and minimal intervention winemaking. After fermentation the wines are aged for long periods of time in underground cement tanks on the lees. By keeping everything the same between crus they are able to clearly demonstrate the differences in terroir between each. Currently they vinify 4 of the crus: Clisson (granite), Gorges (blue clay/gabbro), Goulaine (schist), and Chateau-Thebaud (clay gravel on granite).
