Domaine Mosse

When we first visited the Loire Valley in 2008 there was one domaine that constantly appeared on the wines lists of natural wine bars and restaurants with good wine lists – this was Domaine Mosse. People praised the wines, clearly had immense affection for Agnès and René Mosse, and also talked about the influence they’d had on other wine makers who’d worked with them to gain experience and then started making their own wines.

Since then we have got to know Agnès and René and to know more about  their wines. We have found that they not only turn out excellent red wines but their white wines made from Chenin Blanc are seriously good wines as well.

Their vineyards at Saint Lambert du Lattay are immaculately maintained and we have a particular affection for the Bonne Blanches vineyard which is where their oldest Chenin Blanc vines are to be found.

The Mosses are certified Biologique by Qualite France .

Domaine Mosse Vin de France Moussamoussettes 2015

The Domaine Mosse Moussamoussettes is definitely a cult wine! When we were in Paris this summer we were offered this off-dry sparkling wine as an aperitif at every smart wine bar in that city!

We love this wine. It is light, delicious, limpid, very slightly sweet and the perfect aperitif for a spring or summer lunch or evening aperitif.

This year the delicious flavour comes entirely from Grolleau Noir. It was bottled at only 3g residual sugar making an almost indetectable but pleasant sweetness to match the acidity in the wine. This method is known in France as "Méthode Ancestrale" and the wines are often referred to as Pet Nats (Pétillant Naturels).

Price:SOLD OUT

Domaine Moss Vin de France Rosemonde Rosé 2015

The Rosemonde is a delicious rosé made from Grolleau Gris (the main component) and a little Cabernet Franc. There are two separate parcels of 30 year old Grolleau Gris vines which grow in soils made of clay, gravel and schist (the schist is quite weathered and sits over a bedrock of schist) .

The grapes were hand picked in early October and were lightly pressed and allowed to ferment naturally. The resulting wine was bottled in April 2016. The colour of the wine is a deep pink with an orange hue.

Price: SOLD OUT

Domaine Mosse Vin de France Jazz and Java 2015

This This wine is a collaboration between the Mosse family and Jean-Francois Nicq of Les Foulards Rouges in the Languedoc. Jean-Francois has supplied some of his Grenache and the Mosse family has provided the Cabernet Franc for this unique blend.

This is a very interesting wine with fine tannins and a lot of length. It exudes lots of energy and benefits from food.

This wine is available in MAGNUMS only.

Price: $101 for MAGNUM

Domaine Mosse Vin de France Chico 2015

For Domaine Moss, this is the first time that they have produced Chico which is made from 100% Côt (which is the name given to Malbec in the Loire Valley).

This is an exciting wine using a grape that has not appeared as a 100% variety in the Mosse stable before.

Drink this wine with roast meats or Provencal meatballs or heavy liver-based terrines. 

Price: SOLD OUT

Domaine Mosse Vin de France Les Bonnes Blanches 2014

Rene Mosse didn't bother to submit his Bonnes Blanches to the authorities this year. He knows his wine is good and he knows it will sell so he doesn't need the appellation. He therefore has released it as a Vin de France as so many winemakers are doing these days. Like the Le Rouchefer it is a white wine made from 100% Chenin Blanc. The vines are from a 2.5 hectare plot where the vines are over 35 years old and the yield is very low at only 20 hectolitres per hectare. The wine is aged in wooden fûts. Grapes are picked by hand on this domaine. This is a very good food wine. The alcohol percentage is 13.5 and there is a very small amount of residual sugar while still finishing dry.

This is a stunning example of Chenin Blanc. It displays precision and strength and the spicy notes linger for ages.

Price: SOLD OUT

Domaine Mosse Vin de France Initials BB Blanc

This famous white wine from Agnès and René Mosse is made from a small plot (.67 hectares) of the oldest vines from the amazing Bonnes Blanches vineyard which is comprised of sand and clay over schist. Like the Le Rouchefer it is a white wine made from 100% Chenin Blanc.

The vines are from a little .66 hectare section of the vineyard where the best vines grow and where the vines are over 35 years old and the yield is very low at only 20 hectolitres per hectare. The wine is aged in wooden fûts for at least 12 months. Grapes are picked by hand on this domaine. This is a very good food wine with a mineral edge, lots of complexity and a very long finish. The alcohol percentage is 14 and there is no residual sugar.

If you want to experience an elegant Chenin Blanc, then this is the wine to try.

Price: $80 for 2012 and $88 for 2013

Domaine Mosse Vin de France Magic of JuJu 2015

This blend of Chenin Blanc and Melon de Bourgogne has been made by René using grapes grown organically by his friends. Marta Irico maintains a vineyard in nearby Bonnezeaux and Mr Bordage-Dessange whose vineyard is in Chaume also supplied some of the Chenin. The Melon de Bourgogne grapes were supplied by Jacques Fevrier whose wines we also import. The vineyards are a mix of clay, gravel and shale. The wine was fermented in fûts and then aged for 12 months. There is a tiny bit of residual sugar in this charming Chenin and a lovely hint of oxidative qualities that make the wine a perfect match for food. This wine has only miniscule amounts of free sulphur.

We have only been able to buy MAGNUMS of the Magic of Juju, but they are not only magic to taste they are incredibly good value at this price.

Domaine Mosse Anjou Rouge 2011

The Anjou Rouge is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc picked from small parcels of old vines (ranging from 30 to 50 years old). This is a pure, thrilling wine that is fresh and lively on the palate and has a lingering finish. There are aromas of blackcurrant leaf, tobacco and cocoa notes that linger and a quite complex aroma. The tannins are quite fine and well-integrated. This is an elegant, moorish wine.

Price: SOLD OUT

Domaine Mosse Anjou Blanc 2015

The Anjou Blanc is made from Chenin Blanc grapes picked from younger vines in four different parcels of the Mosse vineyards. The vineyards lie on south-west facing slopes and the soils are composed of sand and gravel lying on a bed of schist. The grapes are picked and sorted manually. The average yield is very low for a dry white wine at 25 hectolitres per hectare. The grapes are left to ferment naturally in wooden fûts and undergo both alcoholic fermentation and malolactic fermentation. There is a tiny amount of residual sugar in this fresh-tasting wine with a lovely mouthfeel. This is a great wine redolent of spice and minerality which linger on the palate for ages!

Price: SOLD OUT

Domaine Mosse Anjou Le Rouchefer Blanc 2014

The Le Rouchefer is a pure Chenin Blanc that comes from a small parcel of gently sloping, southwest facing land that extends over 1.66 hectares with clay and gravel (studded with quartz) sitting on schist. The yield from this vineyard is very low with 20 hectolitres per hectare being common. The grapes are hand harvested and meticulously sorted before slow pressing and then being allowed to go through both alcoholic and malolactic fermentation. The wine is aged in old barrels for 12 months. There is a tiny bit of residual sugar in this wine which adds to its charm.

This is a complex and elegant wine that matches beautifully to a range of foods including grilled fish, sweetbreads, chicken and mountain cheeses.

Price: SOLD OUT

Domaine Mosse Savennieres Arena Blanc

The Savennieres appellation occupies a small area (only 150 hectares) just south of the city of Angers. Some of the great wines of France are produced here from the sandy soils that sit over a shale base. This is a dry wine style made from Chenin Blanc from a tiny plot of land that is less than half a hectare - therefore there is very little of this wine available. The alcohol level is 12.5%.

The grapes were pressed gently and then allowed to undergo natural fermentation in wooden barrels that has already been used for two vintages and hence imparted no wood flavours to the wine.

This wine is amazing value for the price considering the appellation and the elegance of the wine.

Price: $64 for 2013 and $69 for 2014

Domaine Mosse Anjou Blanc Tenderness 2010

The Tenderness is a wine made in a style called Sec Tendre. It is made from 100% Chenin Blanc in a similar way to all the other Chenin Blancs made at this domaine.

The small amount of residual sugar makes it a perfect wine to serve as an aperitif on the deck in the late afternoon, but it also goes very nicely with a range of foods. We like this style of wine with charcuterie, but the sweetness allows it to match with desserts and hard cheeses as well.

Price: SOLD OUT

Domaine Mosse Vin de France Bois Rouge 2013

This wine is produced from younger vines from the same parcels as the Anjou Rouge. It comprises 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 75% Cabernet Franc. It is ready to drink now, in fact at a recent tasting this wine performed in a stellar manner, showing beautiful, soft, well-integrated tannins and a long finish. This wine is an absolute bargain as it is of a similar quality to wines of double the price. Alcohol level is 12.5%.

Price: SOLD OUT