Les Clous Michon Domaine Saint Nicolas 2021

Les Clous Michon, Domaine Saint-Nicholas, biodynamic Chenin Blanc blend, distinctive vin de terroir.  This wine is a fascinating wine from the tiny appellation within the Loire of Fiefs-Vendeens.  Les Clous Michon is a blend of Chenin, Chardonnay and Grolleau Gris which are grown on clay schist soils. Situated on a marshy island a stone’s throw away from the Atlantic, the aromas of the forest and the sea in the wine are distinctive and fascinating. The wine has flavours of candied fruit with a wet rock element. It finishes almost dry and has the hallmark refreshing acidity of cool-climate wines. The wine is biodynamic, hand harvested and undergoes wild yeast fermentation in steel tanks.

Thierry's father purchased the vineyard at Ile d’Olonne in 1970 to build the winery that Thierry now runs.

The wines of Saint-Nicholas are unique due to the vineyard's proximity to the ocean and resulting micro-climate: sea, woodland and the marshes of the Ile d’Olonne. They have a wide variety of grapes across this 37 hectare estate, and it is all farmed biodynamically. No easy task! For Thierry Michon, the schist and silex soils so close to the Atlantic are key to his success. His vineyards never see a non-organic product. He raises his own cows simply for the manure they produce which he religiously spreads between the vines. He has also slowly purchased buffer zones all around his property to prevent chemical products from other winemakers from seeping into his parcels.