Michel Delhommeau’s Muscadet is distinct from many neighboring Muscadet producers, as his vines grow out of Gabbro soil, an especially pure form of lava that has cooled into pure crystalline form, very different from the limestone that much of Muscadet grows in. Vines that grow on gabbro soil struggle to dig into the hard rock, but once there find an abundance of mineral nutrients to draw into their grapes. Michel Delhommeau uses no oak in the cellar and disturbs the wine as little as possible while it rests on the lees for six months before bottling. For the Cuvee St Vincent, the Delhommeaus hold back some of the wine to release much later, so we get to see Muscadet’s secret superpower. This is one of the most age-worthy white wines in the world, and after 9 years, the 2014 edition offers a rich nose of pear, lime, salty seabreeze, floral whipped cream and lemon. The palate is still crisp, creamy, and well defined with notes of baked pear and lemon curd with yellow rose petals, white pepper, and a strong vein of Atlantic salt running through. A classic Muscadet that has only improved with age, adding subtlety and definition without losing any of its youthful zip and zest. Pair with oysters, clams, or scallops.