Le Facteur Su’L’Velo Rouge 2021

Domaine Le Facteur

‘Le Facteur’ (‘The Postman’) is a range of low-intervention wines made by Fabien Brutout and Mathieu Cosme at the biodynamically farmed Domaine de Beaumont in Vouvray. Named after the tradition of offering the postman a glass of wine when he comes by, these are the domain’s most convivial bottlings, meant to be enjoyed young and with abandon.

Fabien usually makes wines by blended grapes from several parcels. They are made up of 3 distinct plots, mainly on clay-limestone soils.

La Folie à Noizay: 1ha, 70year-old Chenin vines.

Les Champs Rougets/Champs d’Anzan/Haie du Rat in Noizay: 3ha, 60year-old Chenin vines.

L’Encloitre in Beaumont La Ronce: 2ha, Young vines planted mainly with chenin. Pineau d’Aunis, Chardonnay and Sauvignon are also grown here.

Clay-limestone soils provide a regular supply of water and allow the heat stored during the day to be released during the night. This soil type is particularly well-suited to Chenin, they produce wines with good acidity, finesse and intact fruit.

The rest of the vineyard is at Nazelles Negron, Gamay and Pinot Noir is planted on sand soil. This low organic matter terroir produces round, fruity wines.

Le Facteur’s wines are easy to drink when young, but can also be aged for a few years. These “vins de copains (friends’ wines)”, that one round calls for another, will remind film buffs of Jacques Tati’s famous letter carrier in “Jour de Fête”.