Domaine de Valmengaux was created in 2000 from one contiguous 4ha parcel of 35-70 year old cordon-trained merlot (90%), with cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon making up the balance. The vines grow on gentle, northeast and northwest-facing slopes of well-drained clay-limestone soils on the outskirts of the tiny right bank village of Vérac. The village lies 35 km northeast of Bordeaux, 17 km northwest of Pomerol, and 20 km from Saint-Émilion. En Foudre Bordeaux displays remarkable purity, richness, and depth, with tasting notes reminiscent of wines from neighboring Pomerol. It is quite approachable right out of the gate, yet will repay up to 10 years of further age in bottle.
Pioneering husband and wife team David & Valérie Vallet share a philosophy centered on utilizing organic and regenerative farming to handcraft terroir-driven natural wines outside of the rigid Bordeaux system. Specifically, they do not use chemical herbicides or pesticides in the vineyard (the property has been free of both since at least 2000), and they limit the number of bunches during pruning as to provide even space between them and allow natural ventilation, with the benefit of concentration in the wine. They utilize cover crops and native grasses between the vine rows and tilling is kept to a minimum. Valmengaux has been certified organic since the 2012 vintage.
Vinification
All grapes are hand-picked, and bunches are completely destemmed, crushed and spontaneously fermented in large, temperature-controlled cement tanks. 20 days of alcoholic fermentation with twice-daily pump-overs and maceration in thermo-regulated concrete vats. Malolactic fermentation is spontaneous in the same tanks. After fermentation, the wine is moved into used 12hl and 20hl Austrian Stockinger oak foudres, where it rests for 24 months without racking or disturbance. The wine is then bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Region
Bordeaux
Appellation
Bordeaux AOC
Village
Vérac
Grapes
90% Merlot / 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
Vine Age
35-70 years old
Soil
Well-drained clay and limestone
Fermentation
Spontaneous alcoholic fermentation with native yeasts in temperature controlled cement tanks, malolactic in the same vessels
Aging
24 months in used 12hl and 20hl Austrian Stockinger oak foudres, no racking
Farming
Regenerative, Certified Organic (Ecocert)
Fining/Filtration
None
S02
21mg/L total
Vegan
Yes
ABV
15%
Pack Size
12x750mL