Region: Loire Valley (Vouvray / Touraine), France
Grapes: 100% Chenin Blanc
Body: Medium
Notes: Quince, crunchy green apple, poached white peach, lime blossom, wet wool, and crushed tuffeau limestone, with a driving, linear natural acidity, subtle waxy texture, and a bone-dry, saline finish
Pairing: Continuous charcuterie boards, Sainte-Maure de Touraine goat cheese, pan-seared river trout, oysters on the half shell, or roasted chicken with tarragon
The Producer
Domaine du Facteur ("The Mailman's Estate") is a low-intervention natural wine project based in the heart of Vouvray, managed by winemaker Fabien Brutout alongside acclaimed biodynamic vigneron Mathieu Cosse. The name and playful postman-on-a-bicycle label serve as an homage to the slow, traditional, unhurried pace of artisanal winemaking. Farming certified organic vines planted on ancient tuffeau (chalky limestone) and clay-silica soils, the estate emphasizes biodiversity and low vineyard impact. In the cellar, Brutout works with minimal interference: spontaneous native-yeast fermentations, slow aging without oak masking, and gentle bottling with minimal or no added sulfites.
The Wine
"Le Facteur Su'l' Vélo" ("The Mailman on the Bike") is a pure, bone-dry expression of Vouvray Chenin Blanc that highlights the region's famous flinty chalk minerality. Hand-harvested from organically grown vines, the fruit is gently direct-pressed and undergoes slow, spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats. The wine rests on its fine lees to build natural textural weight and aromatic depth without losing its razor-sharp structural beam. Crisp, energetic, and unadulterated, the 2024 vintage leads with bright orchard fruit and floral lift, grounded by a long, mouthwatering saline-mineral finish.
Region: Loire Valley (Vouvray / Touraine), France
Grapes: 100% Chenin Blanc
Body: Medium
Notes: Quince, crunchy green apple, poached white peach, lime blossom, wet wool, and crushed tuffeau limestone, with a driving, linear natural acidity, subtle waxy texture, and a bone-dry, saline finish
Pairing: Continuous charcuterie boards, Sainte-Maure de Touraine goat cheese, pan-seared river trout, oysters on the half shell, or roasted chicken with tarragon
The Producer
Domaine du Facteur ("The Mailman's Estate") is a low-intervention natural wine project based in the heart of Vouvray, managed by winemaker Fabien Brutout alongside acclaimed biodynamic vigneron Mathieu Cosse. The name and playful postman-on-a-bicycle label serve as an homage to the slow, traditional, unhurried pace of artisanal winemaking. Farming certified organic vines planted on ancient tuffeau (chalky limestone) and clay-silica soils, the estate emphasizes biodiversity and low vineyard impact. In the cellar, Brutout works with minimal interference: spontaneous native-yeast fermentations, slow aging without oak masking, and gentle bottling with minimal or no added sulfites.
The Wine
"Le Facteur Su'l' Vélo" ("The Mailman on the Bike") is a pure, bone-dry expression of Vouvray Chenin Blanc that highlights the region's famous flinty chalk minerality. Hand-harvested from organically grown vines, the fruit is gently direct-pressed and undergoes slow, spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats. The wine rests on its fine lees to build natural textural weight and aromatic depth without losing its razor-sharp structural beam. Crisp, energetic, and unadulterated, the 2024 vintage leads with bright orchard fruit and floral lift, grounded by a long, mouthwatering saline-mineral finish.
What is natural wine?
Natural wine is wine made with minimal intervention from the winemaker, using organically or biodynamically grown grapes and without the addition of chemicals or additives such as sulfites. The result is a wine that is unique, expressive, and often has a more complex and nuanced flavor profile than conventional wines. Natural wine is also often associated with sustainable and ethical farming practices, making it a popular choice for those interested in environmentally friendly and socially responsible products.