The paradox of a raclette feast is that the beast is never satisfied. When you’ve run out of bread, there is still cheese melting, so you must need another baguette, and once you’ve finished the cheese, your baguette still beckons half eaten, so you must melt more cheese, and so on.

This is just one important lesson I learned the night we first bonded with Fred & Claire. 2019 was a cold winter in the Loire and we were holed up somewhere between Sancerre and Angers, breaking bread and melting cheese as if our lives depended on it. Mathieu Coste and his partner, Alex, were with us as well, and though he may never admit it, I promise you this: there was so much raclette.

Now, six years and a lifetime of indigestion later, Merchants of Thirst is FINALLY proud to release our first new vintages from the Maestros of Muscadet: Domaine de l’Ecu!

Domaine de l’Ecu has become a beacon of natural winemaking in the village of Le Landreau, the heart of Muscadet. Their philosophy is simple: to create wines that are true expressions of their terroir, “without any fuss or makeup.” This means meticulous attention to biodiversity, hand-harvesting, indigenous yeast fermentation, and minimal intervention, allowing the wines to develop character naturally.

We are thrilled to share nine new wines, wines with soul, made with passion and audacity by our friends, Fred and Claire, and invite you to join us in welcoming them back to California.