Thierry Michon: Loire vigneron for Stage 1 Tour de France 2011

On Saturday the Tour swept through Brem-sur-Mer and past the Cave Michon (11 Rue des Vallées) where the Michon wines are on sale. Tomorrow the stage starts in Olonne-sur-Mer and heads northwards and initially inland – ducking to the east of Challans – before finishing in Brittany. Soon after the start of the stage the race will pass Thierry Michon's winery at La Croix Bégaud on the D32.

Thierry was my Loire vigneron for Stage One. However, as you can't be the Loire vigneron twice in the same edition of the Tour, I will be nominating someone else for tomorrow's stage, which passes through the southern part of Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu. I will be announcing my nominee for Stage 3 early tomorrow. 

Then there will be a gap until Stage 7: Le Mans to Châteauroux when there will again be a Loire vigneron for this stage. Apart from producing excellent wine, the nominated vigneron has to be on or very close to the Tour route.    

Thierry Michon from Brem-sur-Mer

The 98th edition of le Tour de France started today. The Vendée was chosen to host the first few stages. Today started at the Passage du Gois and finished at the Mont des Alouettes. Philippe Gilbert, the favourite for the stage which finished at the top of a tough hill, duly won neutralising an attack from Fabien Cancellara and holding off Cadel Evans to win by three seconds. 

The big losers on the day were Alberto Contador and Samuel Sanchez caught by a crash around 7 kilometres from the finish. There was a further crash but as it was within 3k from the finish those caught up got the same time as the first group, who finished six seconds behind Gilbert.

The route passed through Brem-sur-Mer, the home of Thierry Michon (Domaine Saint-Nicolas, Fiefs Vendéens).

Jerémie Mourat

Jerémie Mourat was one of four young Loire vignerons over for last week's London International Wine Trade Fair. The three others were Jerémie Huchet (Muscadet de Sèvre et Maine), Jean-Hubert Lebreton (Domaine des Rochelles, Anjou) and Alexander Cady (Domaine Cady, Coteaux du Layon). The four had a heavy responsibility looking after the veteran Loire courtier, Charles Sydney.  

Mourat Père et Fils (Château Marie du Fou) have 96 hectares of vines around Mareuil-sur-Lay in the Fiefs Vendéens. In addition Jerémie has 14 hectares of his own vines that he cultivates organically. Jerémie uses special egg-shaped vats to ferment some of his wines. I started with the  quite citric , lemony 2009 Collection – a equal blend of Chrdonnay and Grolleau Gris (  )  – with a touch of spice in the finish. Then the attractive 2009 Château Marie du Fou (70% Chenin Blanc; 30% Chardonnay), which is fermented and matured in 600 litre barrels with ripe mouthfilling fruit and good structure. 

Next a red – Collection Rouge which is a blend of 40% Pinot Noir, 30% Negrette (the Fiefs Vendeens is the only part of the Loire to grow this variety which is best in Fronton). This has good supple soft fruit, good length, some acidity and just a touch of greeness in the finish.  2009 Moratus from the organic vineyard is pure Pinot Noir – quite concentrated with rather edgy fruit. 

We finish with 2009 O.V.N.I. (UFO in English) – 90% Sauvignon Blanc with 10% Chardonnay with grassy Sauvignon aromas and nicely restrained on the palate with good length.

I can see that a trip to the Vendée is need both to visit the Mourats and revisit Thierry Michon.