Domaine de la Pépière
Overview
Domaine de la Pépière was the benchmark Muscadet estate, operated for decades by Marc Ollivier, who retired in 2019 after making the 2019 vintage. The estate produced the definitive age-worthy Muscadets — particularly “Clos des Briords,” “Monnières Saint Fiacre,” and “Château Thébaud” — that proved Muscadet’s potential for serious long-term cellaring. Marc Ollivier sourced from exceptional old vine parcels (some planted 1957) and allowed extended sur lie aging. The estate also produces some Cabernet Franc and Malbec (Côt) from Clisson.
Appellations
- Muscadet Sèvre et Maines — Monnières Saint Fiacre cru, Château Thébaud cru, Clos des Briords
- Nantais rouge — Cabernet Franc and Côt from Clisson
Key Wines
- Muscadet “Clos des Briords” Vieilles Vignes — iconic; extended sur lie; seriously age-worthy; 2014 at 10 years scored 94; 2008 at 16 years scored 92 (“still cruising along fresh as a daisy”)
- Muscadet “Monnières Saint Fiacre” — bottled solo from 2013 vintage (previously “Cuvée Eden”); 2019 at 5 years scored 95+ (“stunning”); 2016 Gadais version 94+
- Muscadet “Château Thébaud” — parcels mostly planted 1960s–70s, oldest from 1957; 2019 at 5 years scored 94+
- Muscadet “la Pépie” — entry level; 2023 first from that vintage; scored 92
- Cabernet Franc “la Pépie” and Côt “la Pépie” — from Clisson Cru; native yeast, stainless steel
Style Notes
The top Pépière cuvées are among the most age-worthy white wines in France: extraordinary granite and limestone minerality, maritime salinity, citrus, leesy amplitude. The best (Monnières Saint Fiacre, Château Thébaud, Clos des Briords) develop complexity with 10–20+ years in bottle. Marc Ollivier’s retirement in 2020 is a significant loss for the Loire.
My Tastings
(none yet)
Sources
sources/articles/VFTC/VFTC May-June 2024 #111.txt— Annual Loire Report, Muscadet section (pages 99–102): multiple 2023–2008 vintages across all cuvées; Marc Ollivier retirement noted