Loire Valley
Domaine Nicolas Réau, Chinon
Thirty-something Anjou native Nicolas Réau decided to forgo his final year of commercial studies to set a new course for his family. Like his good friends Lise and Bertand Jousset at Domaine LB, Nicolas didn't have viticulture in his bloodlines. Nevertheless, at the beginning of the millennium, he scraped together the modest purchase price of the 12-acre Clos de la Treille outside the village of Sainte-Radegonde. Determined to build a reputation on par with the one he enjoyed as a local rugby player, Nicolas soon expanded his product range by establishing a long-term tenant management arrangement for the 30-acre Domaine Champs de Vignons in Chinon.
With the 2002 vintage, Nicolas caught the attention of his peers and the French wine press. This past year, he was added to Revue du Vin de France's prestigious annual classification of the best wines of France (Les Meilleurs Vins de France 2009) for his consistent quality through the 2006 vintage.
Domaine Facts
| Vines & Wines: |
Anjou: 9.1 acres Cabernet Franc, 3.2 acres Chenin Blanc Anjou Blanc Clos des Treilles — 100% barrel fermented Chenin Blanc Anjou Rouge Cuvée Pompois — 100% Cabernet Franc Chinon: 29.7 acres Cabernet Franc Chinon Cuvée Garance — 100% Cabernet Franc Chinon Cuvée Moi un Ange — 100% Cabernet Franc Organic but not certified — Nicolas and friends prefer the term "Natural" (no chemicals and no cheating) |
| Soil: | Chalk and sand in Chinon Combination of chalk and schistose soils on Anjou's ancient Massif Armoricain |
| Harvest: | Manual harvest using small (30kg) crates with strict selection in vineyard |
| Yields: | 35 hectoliters/hectare on average |
| Vinification: | |
| Annual Production: |
65,000 bottles / 5417 cases |