Domaine Saint Nicolas
For a number of years now we kept running across the wines of Domaine Saint Nicolas in interesting restaurants, wine bars and wine stores throughout France including such prestigious places a Guy Savoy, Taillevent and Arpege. We have now been representing Domaine Saint Nicolas in Australia for over two years.
We always enjoy our convivial visits to Thierry Michon's winery on the Atlantic coast of France south of the city of Nantes. We always spend a very enjoyable afternoon tasting the entire range of his wines and bumping around his extensive vineyard plots in his white van. His commitment to biodynamics is commendable. He often comments that 'he is alone' meaning that his vineyards are not next to any other vineyards where there might be sprays used.
These are great wines from the Fiefs Vendéens appellation - one that is not very well known outside the Loire, however it is the only place in France where Pinot Noir and Gamay are grown in a maritime climate!
You can listen to an interview given by Thierry during his recent visit to Australia.
Domaine Saint Nicolas Fiefs Vendéens Les Clous Blanc 2010
The 2010 vintage of Les Clous is one of the best yet. It has a little more Chardonnay than usual. It is beautiful wine made from a mix of Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay with a little Groslot Gris in this vintage. Both the Chenin Blanc and the Grolleau Gris play a subtle but noticeable role in this beautiful wine that goes so well with food. Last year the wine was a bit fuller and richer due to the hot vintage, however this year the familiar crispness and savouriness is back and the alcohol has dropped back to 12% again to ensure a refreshing and delicious food wine.
RRP: $29
Certified organic by Ecocert and biodynamic by Demeter
Domaine Saint Nicolas Fiefs Vendéens Reflets Rouge 2008
This was the first wine we ever tried from Domaine Saint Nicolas and we were hugely impressed with the quality. We didn't realise that it was Thierry Michon's entry level wine! It is a blend of Gamay, Pinot Noir, Negrette and Cabernet Franc. It is a sensible 12.5% alcohol.
RRP: $32
Certified organic by Ecocert and biodynamic by Demeter
Domaine Saint Nicolas Fiefs Vendéens Reflets Rouge 2009
This was the first wine we ever tried from Domaine Saint Nicolas and we were hugely impressed with the quality. We didn't realise that it was Thierry Michon's entry level wine! It is dominated by Pinot Noir in this vintage but often has some Negrette, Gamay and Cabernet Franc blended in as well. It is a slightly bigger wine than the 2008 reflecting the warmer season and comes in at 13% alcohol.
RRP: $29
Certified organic by Ecocert and biodynamic by Demeter
Domaine Saint Nicolas Fiefs Vendéens Reflets Rose 2009
The Domaine Saint Nicolas Rose is a delicate, pale pink perfumed beauty that is quite savoury with a dry finish making it perfect as an aperitif. The wine is predominantly Pinot Noir although there is a touch of Gamay and Groslot Gris as well to provide some additional complexity. This is great value for money at this price.
RRP: $26
Certified organic by Ecocert and biodynamic by Demeter
Domaine Saint Nicolas Fiefs Vendéens Gammes en May Rouge 2010
The Domaine Saint Nicolas Gamme en May is a light, refreshing and delicious pure Gamay red wine. It is great for summer drinking served slightly chilled.
Thierry Michon does not always make a pure Gamay, but the quality of the fruit in 2010 is, again, exceptional.
This wine represents excellent value for money at this price. The closure is DIAM. Because this wine is very natural you might find quite a bit of sediment in the bottle - but it doesn't matter, this wine is really, really fresh and delicious.
RRP: $27
Certified organic by Ecocert and biodynamic by Demeter
Domaine Saint Nicolas Fiefs Vendéens Le Haut des Clous Blanc 2007
This is the prestige white from this domaine and is made from 100% Chenin Blanc. It has been aged for 18 months with up to 20% of the wine exposed to new oak to gain complexity.
RRP: $47
Note: We still have a few bottles of the delicious 2006 Le Haut des Clous at the same price as the 2007.
Domaine Saint Nicolas Fiefs Vendéens Le Haut des Clous Blanc 2008
This is the prestige white from this domaine and is made from 100% Chenin Blanc. It has been aged for 18 months with up to 20% of the wine exposed to new oak to gain complexity.
RRP: $47
Domaine Saint Nicolas Fiefs Vendéens La Grande Pièce Rouge 2004
This is one of the domaine's prestige red wine and is made from pure Pinot Noir from vines that are at least 25 years old and that provide very low yields (<30 hectolitres per hectare). It is already elegant and refined but will continue to improve with age. It is a sensible 13% alcohol.
RRP: $59
Certified organic by Ecocert and biodynamic by Demeter
Domaine Saint Nicolas Fiefs Vendéens La Grande Pièce Rouge 2005
This is one of the domaine's prestige red wine and is made from pure Pinot Noir from vines that are at least 25 years old and that provide very low yields (<30 hectolitres per hectare). It is already elegant and refined but will continue to improve with age. It is a sensible 13% alcohol.
RRP: $63
Certified organic by Ecocert and biodynamic by Demeter
Domaine Saint Nicolas Fiefs Vendéens La Grande Pièce Rouge 2006
This is one of the domaine's prestige red wine and is made from pure Pinot Noir from vines that are at least 25 years old and that provide very low yields (<30 hectolitres per hectare). It is already elegant and refined but will continue to improve with age. It is a sensible 13% alcohol.
You now have access to three vintages of this amazing wine so that you can compare three vintages with some age on them!
RRP: $63
Certified organic by Ecocert and biodynamic by Demeter
Domaine Saint Nicolas Fiefs Vendéens Cuvee Maria Blanc 2005
Cuvee Maria is named after Thierry's grandmother. This is a very Burgundian wine being made from pure Chardonnay and aged in new oak. If you like the wines of Burgundy then you will love this cuvee.
RRP: $47
Certified organic by Ecocert and biodynamic by Demeter
Domaine Saint Nicolas Fiefs Vendéens Cabaret Rouge 2007
This is a wine that is typical of the Loire region. It is made from pure Cabernet Franc that has been aged in barriques for a year. This is a particularly good example of a Loire Cabernet Franc. It is a great food wine which is drinking very nicely now.
It is unusual for a wine of this quality that also carries some age is available for such a low price.
RRP: $34
Certified organic by Ecocert and biodynamic by Demeter
Domaine Saint Nicolas Fiefs Vendéens Cuvee Jacques Rouge 2005
This silky cuvee is named after Thierry's grandfather and is a blend of Pinot Noir (85%) and Cabernet Franc (15%). It was aged in barriques for 18 months prior to bottling.
RRP: SOLD OUT
Certified organic by Ecocert and biodynamic by Demeter
Domaine Saint Nicolas Fiefs Vendéens Cuvee Le Poiré 2007
This is an intriguing wine made from an intriguing grape (100% Negrette). The colour is deep red and the flavour has hints of cherries and plums and a lingering, intense spiciness. One reviewer referred to it as 'brooding and primary'. It is a great, full-flavoured, intense wine. We think it is like a Pinot Noir on steroids! This one is well worth a try.
RRP: $55
(We also have a few cases of 2004 available at $49)
Certified organic by Ecocert and biodynamic by Demeter
Domaine Saint Nicolas Fiefs Vendéens Cuvee Le Poiré 2008
This is an intriguing wine made from an intriguing grape (100% Negrette). The colour is deep red and the flavour has hints of cherries and plums and a lingering, intense spiciness. One reviewer referred to it as 'brooding and primary'! It is a great, full-flavoured, intense wine. We think it is like a Pinot Noir on steroids! This one is well worth a try.
RRP: $54
Certified organic by Ecocert and biodynamic by Demeter
Domaine Saint Nicolas Fiefs Vendéens Plante Gate Rouge 2006
As with the La Grande Piece, the Plante Gate is one of the domaine's prestige red wine and is made from pure Pinot Noir from vines that are at least 25 years old and that provide very low yields (<30 hectolitres per hectare). It is from a different part of the vineyard to the La Grande Piece. It is already elegant and refined but will continue to improve with age. It is a sensible 13% alcohol.
RRP: $73
Certified organic by Ecocert and biodynamic by Demeter
Domaine Saint Nicolas Vin de Table Soleil de Chine Blanc 2009
The Domaine Saint Nicolas Soleil de Chine is a sweet 100% Chenin Blanc with 22 grams of residual sugar. The grapes are grown on vines that average in age between 15 and 25 years and that are grown in schist soils. A beautiful wine for dessert or for soft cheese.
RRP: $66
Certified organic by Ecocert and biodynamic by Demeter