Domaine Mosse – Delicious Natural Wines

Domaine Mosse is a leading organic producer in the Loire Valley of delicious wines particularly those made from Chenin Blanc. Living Wines has been importing their wines for many years and they have always been very popular in Australia during that time.

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.

We have also watched their two sons Sylvestre and Joseph work alongside Agnès and René every vintage. Now they have taken over and are producing wines of exceptional purity and flavour while maintaining the high standards set by their parents.

Their vineyards at Saint Lambert du Lattay in the area covered by the Anjou appellation 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.

You can see a list of all the wines we are currently selling here.

You can read more about the Mosse family on their Web site here.

Domaine Mosse Vin de France Moussamoussettes 2022

The Domaine Mosse pet nat Moussamoussettes is definitely a cult wine! Every year it keeps getting better and we are more than excited about this year’s offering.

We love this wine. It is pink, delicious, limpid, quite dry with the characteristic slight bitterness coming from the Pineau d’Aunis and the perfect aperitif for a spring or summer lunch or end-of-evening aperitif.

This year the grapes are Grolleau Noir, Cabernet Franc and Pineau d’Aunis.

The grapes were direct pressed then fermented in stainless steel and bottled in October 2022. The wine tastes completely dry with a characteristic final note of bitterness from the Pineau d’Aunis. 11.5% ABV

The result is a perfect example of a pet nat that we look forward to drinking at any time.

Price: $55

Domaine Mosse Vin de France Chenin 2022

When we opened the first bottle of this cuvée to arrive in Australia we were immediately transported back to the days of the Anjou Blanc and the highly popular Magic of Ju-Ju which so typified the wines of the Mosse family.

This wine is from Chenin Blanc vines, planted by the Mosse family on clay and schist in four plots near Saint-Lambert-du-Lattay and Beaulieu-sur-Layon, between 2000-2002. This year the vines produced grapes at 38 hectolitres per hectare and were picked, as always, by hand.

The wine was directly pressed, but slowly, and aged partly in concrete tanks, partly in stainless steel and partly in foudre for 6 months before bottling.

The result is a crisp, clean, slightly oxidative wine that lingers on the palate for ages.

This one is particularly good and we think that it will disappear very quickly. It is typical of the Mosse “style” of Chenin Blanc that has made their wines made from this grape so popular throughout the years.

RRP: $63

Domaine Mosse Savennieres Arena Blanc 2021

The Savennieres appellation occupies a small area (only 150 hectares spread among many small producers) just south of the city of Angers. Some of the great wines of France are produced here from the sandy soils (Aeolian sand) 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 vines were planted in 2004 so are almost 20 years old. The density of the vines is 5,500 vines per hectare and the harvest returned a very low 12 hectolitres per hectare,which resulted in only 1,000 bottles being produced!

The grapes were pressed gently and then allowed to undergo natural fermentation in wooden barrels that normally have already been used for two vintages and hence imparted no wood flavours to the wine. The wine was also bottled without any filtration.

The Mosse family’s observations are that it was made with very ripe Chenin grapes which express themselves with finesse in this fresh vintage and that it shows the mild bitterness and complexity characteristic of Savennières.

There is a total of 2.7 grams per litre of residual sugar which is tiny but so common for these delightful Chenin Blanc wines from the Mosse domaine.

The vines and the activites in the vineyard are certified organic by Qualité France.

RRP: $104 (Enquire – Very limited supply)

Domaine Mosse Anjou Les Bonnes Blanches 2021

Les Bonnes Blanches is one of the Mosse family’s favourite vineyards. It sits on terraces on the banks of the famous Layon River.

It is one of only a few Mosse wines that are released under an appellation, in this case the broad Anjou appellation. 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 40 years old and the yield is very, very low at only 12 hectolitres per hectare. Grapes are picked by hand on this domaine.

The grapes are directly pressed and then allowed to settle for 36 hours before undergoing fermentation in tanks before being transferred to old wooden barrels for 10 months on lees without any stirring.

This is a very good food wine. The alcohol percentage is 13% and there is a very small amount of residual sugar (2.7 grams per litre) while still finishing dry. This wine can enhance a range of foods including roast poultry or a complex crustacean dish.

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

RRP: $89 (SOLD OUT)

Domaine Mosse Combo 2022

The Mosse Family keep coming up with interesting (intriguing?) combinations of grape varieties and processing styles to create winess that are totally delicious.

This one is a combination of Cabernet Franc (20%) picked from 45 year old vines grown on clay sitting on shale and Muscat (80%) picked from 15 year old vines grown on limestone clay soil. Both grape varieties are managed organically in the respective vineyards.

The two grape varieties have been processed very differently. The Cabernet Franc was direct-pressed to create white juice and the Muscat is macerated before the two are joined.

The Muscat is from Roussillon and arrived at the Mosse winery on August 12th. One third of the grapes were crushed by foot and the remainder remained intact during 12 days of maceration and pumping over.

The Cabernet Franc was harvested at the end of September, pressed directly and fermented in stainless steel vats. The juice was combined with the Muscat in the old oak barrels and then spent 5 months in old oak barrels before being bottled in February 2023.

The result is a delicious combination of these two quite different varieties with a pleasant 12% percent alcohol and a small amout of sulphite added.

Domaine Mosse Vin de France Bisou 2022

Bisou sold out very quickly in the last shipment because our customers recognised that this was an exceptional wine made by the Mosse Family that was interesting yet very drinkable.

It is light, has an interesting complexity from the mix of grapes used and is quite moorish.

Due to the climate change induced bad weather experience in this area of the Loire Valley in 2022 and the resultant effect on the quantity of grapes able to be picked from their own vineyards, the grapes were bought from friends who tend their vines organically and consist of Grolleau Noir, Grolleau Gris, Côt, Cabernet Franc and Chenin Blanc.

The grapes were mainly grown in clay and pebbles over schist on vines that are approximately thirty years old..

The grapes were separately given a short maceration of between 4 to 10 days before being fermented and matured separately in barrels for approximately 8 months. The juice was combined one and a half months prior to being bottled. It has retained the freshness and drinkability of the previous vintage from 2021.

This is a delicious wine with a very appealing 12% alcohol!

Domaine Mosse Vin de France Bangarang 2022

The popular Bangarang reflects the style of the fresh, young red wines that have become so popular as consumers realise that red wines don’t have to be massive to be enjoyable.

This year it has been made using the local heroes Cabernet Franc (50%), Grolleau Gris (25%) as well as Gamay (25%) using grapes that were purchasedd from their friends.

The grapes were hand harvested from certified organic vines that are around 30 years of age from vineyards near the villages of Faye d’Anjou, Bonnezeaux and Beaulieu sur Layon.

The Grolleau grapes were destemmed then macerated for one week to extract some colour then the juice was transferred to tank for fermentation. The other two grape varieties were directly pressed before being transferred to tank.

Millennial movie buffs might know that Bangarang was the battle cry of the Lost Boys in the Stephen Spielberg movie Hook, immortalised when Robin Williams as Peter Pan used it to call them for help. The movie was a favourite of Joseph and Sylvestre Mosse when they were children and we suspect still is. (The lot number of this wine is Hook22.)

This wine is just perfect for all year drinking slightly chilled and it is only 12% alcohol. The wine was bottled very early on October 25th, 2022.

RRP: $52 (SOLD OUT)

Domaine Mosse Magic of Ju-Ju 2021

This wine is named after the song and album called Magic of Ju-Ju released by Archie Shepp in 1968 which one reviewer has described as a “tour-de-force” and “eighteen plus minutes of Shepp roaring on tenor on top of a drum hurricane. The energy level starts off frenetic and stays there”.

That’s all well and good, however we find the drink as opposed to the music quite calming and relaxing.

In 2021 it was made using Chenin Blanc (60%) and Sauvignon Blanc (40%) that have been direct pressed. The juice was transferred to old wooden barrels (between 10 and 20 years old according to Joseph Mosse) until April 2022 (7 months) when it was bottled.

We very much like this vintage and are impressed by the texture as well.

RRP: $46 (SOLD OUT)

Domaine Mosse Le Rouchefer Blanc 2021

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 vines were planted initially in 1976, so they are now 47 years old. 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 spontaneous malolactic fermentation.

After pressing, the juice was placed in two 25 hectolitre foudres. One contained only juice. The other contained 10% destemmed grapes and 90% juice. After 6 months the juice from both foudres was assembled prior to subsequent bottling.

The Mosse family’s notes are “ample and generous, balanced by a vibrant minerality, the light maceration gives it structure”. They recommend aging it for up to 15 years, but it is drinking perfectly now.

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

RRP: $84

Domaine Mosse Nova 2020

This very special wine made from Chenin Blanc from one of the best plots that the Mosse family own, namely Les Bonnes Blanches, is a truly intriguing wine and one of the best we have tried this year. This is a knockout!

The clever Mosse winemakers, namely Joseph and Sylvestre, have really pushed the boat out here and gently macerated the grapes for 218 days! The result is a level of complexity combined with a harmony that is truly breathtaking. The aroma is full of promise and the flavour lingers and amplifies and then becomes a vivid memory that makes you smile with secret delight.

We only have a tiny amount of this treasure so it will not be possible to distribute it to more than a few lucky people, but we will try to see if they will release some more for us.

RRP: $108 (SOLD OUT)

Domaine Mosse Vermouth 2020

This delicious red Vermouth has been crafted by the Mosse family. It is made from a base of destemmed Côt (Malbec) from the 2020 vintage.

After pressing, spirits which had been macerated with violets, star anise, cinchona bark and ginger were added to the juice, which stopped any continuing fermentation, retaining the natural sugars. it was aged for two years, one year in barrels and one year in tank.

The wine was then reinforced with grape spirits to create this lively, flavoursome Vermouth which is not overly sweet. The alcohol is 17.5%.

You could make an Americano by adding equal parts Campari and Vermouth then topping the glass with a good soda water. The combination of the bitterness from the herbs in the Campari with the citrus and spice in the Vermouth is very refreshing.

Or you could make a Spritz by adding 50 mls of Vermouth and then topping the glass with the wonderful pet nat Moussamoussettes. Delicious!

Price: $78 (SOLD OUT)

Domaine Mosse Overmars 2020

Overmars is a beautiful, lightly-orange, macerated organic Chenin Blanc cleverly crafted by the Mosse family.

The Chenin Blanc grapes used for this wine have been picked (manually) from their Beaulieu sur Layon vineyard that they planted in 2001 on clay, gravel and shale soils near the Layon River.

They destemmed the grapes and then macerated them for 6 days. For each of the 6 days they hand punched the grapes down into the juice.

They then did a soft pressing of the grapes and allowed the juice to settle for 24 hours before transferring it to truncated conical vats.

The juice was bottled in June 2021 with a very low 18 mg/litre of sulphites and 13.5% alcohol.

RRP: $70 (SOLD OUT)

Domaine Mosse Goldeneye 2019

Mosse Goldeneye

This is the first time we have sold a wine with the Vin de la Communauté Européenne designation on it. This means that the grapes have been sourced from an area that is wider than just France and instead requires a European appellation.

The grapes in this wine are Loin de l’Oeil from South West France and Grüner Veltliner from Austria. The two grape varieties combine effortlessly to produce a highly drinkable white wine of considerable charm.

This wine shows the Mosse brothers, once again, showing their experience and adaptability to combine grapes from two different countries to produce a very interesting and delightful wine.

RRP: $39 (SOLD OUT)

Domaine Mosse Vin de France La Joute 2021

La Joute is a relatively new wine for the Mosse family. It is a blend of Chardonnay (20%) from vines planted in 1987 and Chenin Blanc (80%) from vines planted in 2015. The grapes have been sourced from their own vines for this wine. The vines are certified organic (FR-BIO-10).

The grapes were manually harvested at the beginning of September at a low yield value of 15 hectolitres per hectare.

Following crushing and fermentation the juice was placed in used barriques for 10 months until it was ready for bottling (June 2022). It was bottled with a small amount of sulphites.

The Chardonnay provides freshness and acidity and the Chenin Blanc provides the characteristics that we have come to expect from a Mosse wine that uses Chenin Blanc.

It has freshness, it is dry and it has that gorgeous texture that all the Mosse white wines display and that lingering Chenin aftertaste that is just so-o-o Mosse!

RRP: $70 (SOLD OUT)

Domaine Mosse Initial Carbo 2020

This wine sees a variation to past practice by the Mosse family. Previously, the Chenin Blanc grapes from their prized vineyard called Bonnes Blanches have been used for a wine of the same name. This is a place with good exposure and excellent silt and shale soil which is littered with small white pebbles from which the name of the vineyard is derived.

The vines in the Bonnes Blanches vineyard are around 40 years old and are tended organically and certified by Qualité France. The yield from this vineyard is quite low at only 25 hectolitres per hectare (compared with figures of 60 to 100 in conventional vineyards). The low yields and the organic farming leads to very high quality grapes.

After hand harvesting of the grapes they underwent carbonic maceration for 11 days with the juice that accumulated in the bottom of the tank being drawn off daily. The juice was then transferred to used wooden barrels for 10 months of aging. It was bottled in July 2021.

The result is a macerated wine with fine tannins and aromas of candied citrus fruits, fresh almonds and herbaceous notes. This is a wonderful wine!

RRP: $79 (SOLD OUT)

Domaine Mosse Vin de France Marie Bonnes-Fer 2016

One sip of this wine and you can almost taste the quartz and schist in the vineyards that this cuvée was made from. During this vintage the Mosse vineyards suffered significant damage from hail, so this cuvée is a blend of grapes picked from three of their best vineyards – Les Bonnes Blanches, Marie Besnard et Le Rouchefer which is where the three parts of the name come from.

The fermentation was carried out with wild yeasts as always and the malolactic fermentation was also natural. The wine was matured in barrels that had been used for two years previously and remained there for 12 months before bottling.

It is a characteristic Mosse Chenin with that tell-tale signature aroma and taste made even better for the grapes coming from such excellent vines.

Price: $73 (SOLD OUT)

Domaine Mosse Vin de France Marie-Besnard 2015

The Marie Besnard vineyard is a 1 hectare parcel that is right next to the Le Rouchefer vineyard. The vines are 70 years old and were planted using selection massale.

The wine was fermented then aged in 2 year old barrels for 22 months and then bottled in 2017 then held for another year before releasing it.

This wine will last for many years and is quite dry although there is always that Mosse signature of a little (<2 grams per litre) residual sugar that gives the wine a spark.

Only 1,000 bottles were made.

RRP: $121 (SOLD OUT)

Domaine Mosse Cabernet Franc 2020

This wine is is made from hand picked grapes that are certified organic (Agriculture Biologique) by Qualité France. The 30 year old vines grew in soils of schist, clay, gravel and quartz.

The resulting wine is very silky and called Cabernet Franc. It is from the 2020 vintage. The grapes were destemmed and then macerated for 3 weeks without any punch down. The grapes were then pressed gently.

It was in bottle for one year before release, which has ensured the tannins are beautifully integrated. A Vin de France, this is made with grapes from some of the vines that would have traditionally been in the Anjou Rouge. They have eschewed the appellation system now for almost all of their wines.

RRP: $54 (SOLD OUT)

Domaine Mosse Vin de France Initials BB Blanc 2015

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.

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

RRP: $94 (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!

RRP: SOLD OUT

Domaine Mosse Vin de France Champ Boucault 2015

This is one of the famous sweet wines produced in this area just below the city of Angers and which is close to the Layon River. Here the Chenins are allowed to ripen through to the end of October or early to late November to develop those characteristics that make these sweet wines so desirable.

This vintage was particularly favourable for the production of sweet wines. This cuvée has 11 grams of residual sugar but this is balanced by beautiful acidity which makes it perfect as a dessert wine or, as the French love to do, as an aperitif.

The grapes for this wine were picked on the 27th October and the juice was transferred to old barrels for the fermentation and aging. The yield for this vintage was an incredibly low 9 hectolitres per hectare!

The level of alcohol is a low 12%.

A gorgeous wine that comes in 500 ml bottles.

RRP: SOLD OUT

Domaine Mosse Anjou Blanc Tenderness 2010

Domaine Mosse Tenderness

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.

RRP: SOLD OUT