Nicolas Cheveau

Pouilly-Fuissé, Burgundy

Location Solutre-Pouilly, Sane-et-Loire (1950) / St-Amour, Beaujolais - 15 Ha
Grapes Chardonnay, Gamay
Viticulture Sustainable (Lutte Raisonnee)
Producer Nicolas & Julien Cheveau
Website vins-cheveau.com
Location Solutr-Pouilly, Sane-et-Loire (1950) / St-Amour, Beaujolais - 15 Ha
Grapes Chardonnay, Gamay
Viticulture Sustainable (Lutte Raisonnee)
Producer Nicolas & Julien Cheveau
Website vins-cheveau.com

Domaine Michel Cheveau is a 14 hectare family estate run by Nicolas Cheveau, his brothr Julien and wife Aurelie. The family cellars are on the outskirts of the village of Fuissé, being built only five years ago as a result of the family house getting too cramped (although Trois terroir is still fermented in the two 3000 litre foudres under the kitchen). The vines are located in an around the village, with 14 hectares covering St Veran, Macon, Fuisse, Solutre Davaye and 1er Ouilly Fuisse (Buchot Vers Cras Pouilly and Aux Bouthiers). They are worked by hand, by horse and by tractor, and without use of any agrochemicals. Cheveau is one of the few vingnerons who do not fertilize either, choosing to use sward management to stop soil erosion and keep a balance of nutrients in the soil. His vineyards can always bee spotted for being meticulously looked after, but fizzing with life. 


The cellar is a model of perfection. Nicolas is fastidious in ensuring every pipe, tank, valve and tap is spotless at all times, preferring to let the nature in the vineyard allow the best chance of expressing itself. Ferments for the Macon are in individual stainless steel tanks, each one holding a parcel of wine. It is bottled after 6 months on the lees. Trois terroir spends 12 months in foudre, and is a blend of all the vineyards in the estate. Buchot is one of the finest 1er Cru, sitting in the heart of the Fuissé 1er Cru, and the jewel in the crown. This is raised for 12 months in Damy Demi-Muid and a further 12 months on lees in stainless steel. Or Rouge is from Aurelie’s family vineyards in Leynes (they also own St Amour vineyards) and is fermented whole-bunch in stainless steel, where it is kept for 12 months prior to bottling without SO2. The wine is his best effort yet, and absurdly good value, as Nicolas says this is still not his forte yet, being a white wine maker at heart!

Nicolas Cheveau Wines

Macon Davaye 100% Chardonnay. Soils are a mix of Clay and Limestone typical for the Maconnais. Vines are 10yo and the wines are fermented and aged in Stainless steel.
Macon Solutre-Pouilly 100% Chardonnay. Vineyards with clay and a higher proportion of chalky limestone. Two thirds of the wine are aged in Stainless steel for 12 months and the remaining third is aged in used oak barrels for 8 months.
Bourgogne Blanc 100% Chardonnay.Fruit sourced from Saint-Verand, Chanes and Leynes sat over a silicious seam with volcanic rocks. 90% in stainless steel with 10% in new 600l barrels for 12 months.
Pouilly Fuisse Vignes du Hameau 100% Chardonnay. Selected fruit from three different cru vineyards, Pouilly, Aux Bouthiers and Ver Cras. The fruit is fermented and aged on lees in 600l old oak barrels for 14 months.
Pouilly Fuisse 1er Cru Vers Cras 100% Chardonnay.Vers Cras is one of the finest 1er cru sites in the appellation, with high degrees of limestone bringing a mineral freshness to the wines. The vines here are from 1950 and 1984, worked by horse and hand harvested. The fermentation is in demi muid, where it is left for 12 months prior to racking onto stainless steel tanks for a further 12 months to allow the oak to meld. The wine is complex and restrained, seamless built around a core of fresh acidity and light yellow fruit. It finishes long with a cool flourish and a touch of spice.
Beaujolais Villages En Chatenay 100% Gamay grown on granitic, stony soil on the edge of St Amour. Destemmed, whole bunch ferment in stainless steel with 10 months post ferment ageing in steel.
Saint Amour Les Champs Grilles 100% Gamay. Champ Grilles is a single plot of 80 year old Gamay planted to 'Pierres Bleues' a type of granitic derived soil over granite. The planting is at 10000 vines per hectare and the wine is fermented, destemmed in stinaless steel and oak cuves, prior to 24 months ageing in 50% demi muid and 50% stainless steel.
Macon Davaye 100% Chardonnay. Soils are a mix of Clay and Limestone typical for the Maconnais. Vines are 10yo and the wines are fermented and aged in Stainless steel.
Macon Solutre-Pouilly 100% Chardonnay. Vineyards with clay and a higher proportion of chalky limestone. Two thirds of the wine are aged in Stainless steel for 12 months and the remaining third is aged in used oak barrels for 8 months.
Bourgogne Blanc 100% Chardonnay. Silicious seam with volcanic rocks. 12 months on lees with 1/3 inox, 2/3 in 600l old oak.
Pouilly Fuisse Vignes du Hameau 100% Chardonnay. Selected fruit from three different cru vineyards, Pouilly, Aux Bouthiers and Ver Cras. The fruit is fermented and aged on lees in 600l old oak barrels for 14 months.
Pouilly Fuisse Au Buchot 1er Cru 100% Chardonnay. Au Bouchot is the jewel in the crown of the estate, lying in the heart of the newly crowned 1er Cru of Pouilly. The plot is less than half a hectare and sits at the top of the hill, where the clay is thinest and the limestone most influencial. The fruit is pressed after selction in a pneumatic press and fermetned first in new 500 litre french and austrian oak, where it rests for 12 months, and then for a further 12 months, with lees, in stainless steel. The results are compelling and this is one of the wines that sevred to prove the worthiness of this vineyard as a 1er cru in 2019.
Beaujolais Villages En Chatenay 100% Gamay grown on granitic, stony soil on the edge of St Amour. Destemmed, whole bunch ferment in stainless steel with 10 months post ferment ageing in steel.
Saint Amour Les Champs Grilles 100% Gamay. Champ Grilles is a single plot of 80 year old Gamay planted to 'Pierres Bleues' a type of granitic derived soil over granite. The planting is at 10000 vines per hectare and the wine is fermented, destemmed in stinaless steel and oak cuves, prior to 24 months ageing in 50% demi muid and 50% stainless steel.