Côtes d'Auvergne

Grower Profiles

Domaine Vincent Tricot
He’s an Angevin and first generation vigneron; she’s from a family of viticulteurs in the Beaujolais. The couple met whilst he was working for a large domaine in the Costières de Nîmes. Together, they moved to the Auvergne in 2002, bought an existing domaine from a retiring vigneron and started a family. The decision to come to the region was purely financial; they could afford to buy vineyard land here.

They now farm 4.5 hectares, with all the vines certified organic, although they have taken the bold step of refusing to take the name of the appellation, instead electing to sell everything as Vin de Table. The nervous, but strong-minded Marie, explained that they didn’t want to be tarred with the poor reputation that they believe the Auvergne is tarnished with – to the point that they didn’t wanted to be included in this report on the growers of the region.

The Tricots produce six different Vin de Table’s, including a méthode ancestrale, a dry rosé which is sold under the name Petites Fleurs’ (with a label drawn by one of their young children), two whites (from Chardonnay) and a pair of reds; the first, Le Milans, is from Gamay with an equal proportion of Pinot Noir (from ten year old vines), and a vieilles vignes Gamay from 50 year old vines. The wines are sold to a small, but loyal customer base, on local markets - and in Japan.

Despite their rebellious and hippy-like attitude, their wines (tasted in June 2009) are very good; proper, clean and good representatives of the region - whether they feel that is a good thing or not. I didn’t get to meet Vincent; he was out working in the vines, but Marie had said that he worked a harvest in Chile at some point in his career. For anyone who is sympathetic to biological farming methods, they are worth seeking out.

Vincent et Marie Tricot
11 Rue des Percedes
Orcet
T/F: + 33 4 73 77 70 67

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