Domaine Saint-Nicolas - Cuvée Soleil de Chine 2011
16,5/20
RVF
“Le Soleil de Chine 2011 lives up to its reputation as a rare and exceptional sweet wine, in which the candied notes and bitter undertones blend beautifully, without any heaviness. ” (The Guide to the Best Wines of France 2015 - RVF). A white wine with a brioche-like nose, rich and full-bodied on the palate, with a fresh, briny finish... A delicious, indulgent wine!
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Eye
pale yellow dress
Nose
very brioche-like, with notes of roasted fruit
Palate
rich and full-bodied, with a taut finish and a fresh, briny aftertaste
Serve
at 10-12°C
Open
1/2 hour before
Drink starting at
2015
Drink before
2021
Food and Wine Pairings
Best enjoyed as an aperitif, with foie gras, desserts...
Bettane & Desseauve
Rated estate (2024 guide): 3*Stars (High-quality production that serves as a benchmark in its sector)
About the estate:
Thierry Michon, ably assisted by his sons Antoine and Mickaël, is a leading figure in the Vendée wine region and a pioneer of biodynamics in the area since 1993. He continues to bring out the best in his 42 hectares of clay, schist, and quartz soils, located on the Atlantic terroir of Brem, in the Pays des Olonnes, nestled between marshes and forests. The oceanic influence lends the wines a unique, briny freshness. This exemplary estate offers a warm and gracious welcome.
Guide des Vins Gault & Millau
4-Star Rated Estate (Very High-Quality Production)
About the estate:
The Michon family has been growing grapes on the Île d’Olonne since 1960. Their vineyard has gradually expanded and now covers nearly forty hectares. Thierry is the driving force here, and with him there’s no rest: biodynamic farming has been practiced since 1993 across a wide range of grape varieties (Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Négrette, Chenin, Chardonnay, and Grolleau...). It’s as if the entire French wine-growing world had gathered on a small island...
Robert Parker - Wine Advocate
Estate rated "Recommended" (Wine producer recommended by Robert Parker - The Wine Advocate)
RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France
Wine rated (2015 guide) 16,5/20 (Very good wine)
Rated Estate (2024 Guide) 1*Star (Up-and-coming stars or high-quality winemakers producing wines of a high standard—you won’t be disappointed when you taste the wines from these estates)
About the wine:
The 2011 Soleil de Chine lives up to its reputation as a rare and exceptional sweet wine, in which the candied notes and bitter undertones blend harmoniously, without any heaviness.
About the estate:
Thierry Michon, supported by his sons, Antoine and Mickaël, runs the only winery of international stature in the Vendée. On the little-known terroir of Brem, he owns vineyards cultivated entirely using biodynamic methods, though yields have unfortunately been low in recent years. Influenced by the ocean, the vineyard produces white wines made from Chenin and Chardonnay (with notes of yellow stone fruits and a briny finish), as well as reds made from Pinot Noir that have been aged for a long time (Jacques, La Grande Pièce), along with Gamay, Négrette, and Cabernet Franc. We are enthusiastic about these finely crafted, briny whites, but we have reservations about the reds, which are harshly structured due to very advanced ripeness and heavy extraction. The wines are now classified as “Vin de France” because the Fiefs Vendéens regulations prohibit lieu-dit and single-varietal cuvées. How sad to see this appellation fail to recognize its leading producer!
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