At A Glance
- Fact
- Detail
- Place
- Brem-sur-Mer in the Fiefs Vendéens
- Range
- Two red Vin de France wines
- Farming
- Biodynamic, with Biodyvin certification
The Producer
The land Thierry Michon's father had farmed since 1960 became biodynamic under Thierry's direction. He leads Domaine Saint Nicolas in Brem-sur-Mer, where Antoine handles production in the cellar and vineyard and Mickaël works on permaculture and establishing a farm among the vines. The domaine has held Biodyvin certification since 1995.
Soil care is a priority for Michon. Wines ferment spontaneously because he believes cultured yeast changes their taste. Sulfites are used minimally, and the wines are neither fined nor filtered.
Place
Brem-sur-Mer is the domaine's home in the Fiefs Vendéens, a Loire setting where the local wine community has contracted sharply. More than 100 vignerons once lived here; the Michon family is now the only family remaining.
The domaine's vineyard and cellar work stays within that family, with Thierry leading and Antoine and Mickaël handling different parts of production and farming.
Wines
The range has two red Vin de France wines, Les Rives and Vin d'Antoine. Les Rives is the 2021 bottling. Vin d'Antoine is the other red wine in the range. Their shared category sets the common frame, while the separate names distinguish the bottles.
In The Glass
Vin d'Antoine is ruby coloured, with dark berry and licorice on the nose. The palate is juicy, with silky tannins.
A Bottle To Understand It
Les Rives 2021 is the bottle to open first. It is a red Vin de France, with Vin d'Antoine as the other red in the range. The nose has blackcurrant and cherry with subtle smoky notes. The palate is tonic and indulgent, with a fine balance between fruit and spice.
Final Word
Domaine Saint Nicolas is Thierry Michon's Brem-sur-Mer domaine, with family vineyard work, biodynamic farming, spontaneous fermentation, minimal sulfites, and two red Vin de France wines.
Sources
- www.thewinedoctor.com/loire/saintnicolas.shtml
- savortheharvest.com/thierry-michon-and-domaine-saint-nicolas-biodynamic-loire-wines
- www.paramourduvin.com/boutique/vins/vin-dantoine-2135
- www.1jour1vin.com/fr/guide-achat-vin/loire/vin-de-france/saint-nicolas/24580-vin-rouge-les-rives-domaine-saint-nicolas-2021