Nicolas Reau 'Attention Chenin Merchant' VdF

Chenin Blanc

Saumur, France

Nicolas Reau's love for wine started at a young age, but he pursued a career in music until he saw an advertisement for a degree in viticulture and oenology. In 2005, he met Sylvie Augereau, a famous French wine writer and organizer of La Dive Bouteille, who would become his wife and lead him into the natural wine movement. Nicolas practices biodynamics and believes in conscientious farming to produce clean, distinct, and honest wines. In 1998 Nicolas Reau took over an estate of 28 ha. In 2001—after three years of analysis, observation and putting his education into action—Nicolas decided to get rid of 23 hectares and only kept five of the best hectares surrounded by a wall. Those five hectares represent the Clos des Treilles (his DBA name). Two additional hectares were replanted bringing the total area to 7 hectares. In 2002 Nicolas made his first vintage, with natural yeast and minimal intervention from the start.