After spending a couple of days in the Pays Nantais looking at the 2017 vintage – report to follow tomorrow – we headed southwards on Wednesday morning to drop in on Thierry Michon, the sage and leading light at Domaine St Nicolas, at Ile d'Olonne.
Like so many others Thierry was hit by the April 2017 frosts. It didn't help that their motor for their wind turbine broke down on the second night of the successive frosts. Thierry told me that the whites were very seriously affected. However, fortunately the reds escaped unscathed.
The Pinot Noir has now been picked and Thierry is very pleased with their quality. We tasted all the 2017 baby cuvées of his Pinot Noir at various stages into their fermentation. Deep coloured with rich fruit they seem to be very promising. I can well understand Thierry's enthusiasm over the potential of his 2017 Pinot Noirs.
Just as I came to leave Thierry kindly thrust a couple of samples into my hands. One Pinot Noir and this 2016 Vin de Thierry, Vin de France. He did quickly tell me the grape varieties in the blend but I confess I didn't write them down – slapped wrist! I thought I could find the details on the net but no such luck.
Suffice to say that the 2016 Vin de Thierry is delicious to drink now with good concentration of soft apricot and peach fruit and enough freshness in the finish to cleanse the palate in the finish. Definitely a relaxed wine to drink with friends – in no time you will be looking for another bottle to open....
