Facteur s'ul Velo ‘La Bamboche’ Chenin Blanc 2023

La Bamboche is Fabien Brutout's expression of 100% Chenin Blanc as orange wine from the Loire, showing what this noble variety can do when it's given extended skin contact and handled with care. This is a truly enjoyable and satisfying style of orange wine – super drinkable and fun with notes of mango, fresh pear, citrus pith, and even a touch of passion fruit.

After completing a university course in wine and obtaining a degree in 2007, Fabien Brutout worked for 2 years as an apprentice with Sébastien Brunet in Vouvray. He joined Mathieu Cosme at the end of 2008 and committed to the estate full-time.

In 2013, following a discussion and tasting with some Belgian friends, the idea of creating a range of wines complementary to those produced by Mathieu began to take shape. 'Le Facteur' was born, and Fabien was given complete freedom regarding the winemaking.

In 2018, he settled in Noizay, taking over 4 hectares of vineyards in the A.O.C. Vouvray and Touraine. Meanwhile, with his brother, a farmer who took over the family farm, he planted 2 hectares of vineyards in the north of Indre-et-Loire, in the hamlet of L'Encloître (Beaumont-la-Ronce). On these family lands with limestone subsoils, which saw vineyards before phylloxera, Chenin is predominant but also coexists with Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pineau d'Aunis, and Gamay. This variety fuels Fabien's creativity in his winemaking for the years to come. Now self-employed, Fabien Brutout heads a vineyard of 7 hectares spread over several terroirs.

La Bamboche is made from organically grown Chenin Blanc from Hameau de l'Encloître (Beaumont-la-Ronce). All the grapes are picked by hand. The whole clusters are kept together and undergo carbonic maceration for three weeks and then are pressed into stainless steel. This wine is bottled without any filtration, fining, or degassing.

Serve it cool (not cold) with seafood, grilled fish, rich fish dishes, charcuterie, or dishes that sit between white and red wine territory. This is honest, fun orange wine from the Loire at a great price, perfect for those looking to explore skin-contact Chenin Blanc.