Pigeur Fou

Gérald Vallée has been farming 27 hectares of Cabernet Franc on the gravelly terraces of Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil organically since 1999, receiving Ecocert certification in 2013. On this thick layer of ancient Loire River gravel, Cab Franc always reaches maturity earliest of all — making it the perfect terroir for a pure, vibrant, non-interventionist style. 'Pigeur Fou' ('Crazy Puncher') is one of only two cuvees at the domaine that is not destemmed: whole bunches go directly into tank, fermenting naturally inside the grape skins for approximately 15 days without any added sulfites. After a gentle press, the wine ages for 6 months in old wooden tanks before bottling without fining or filtration. The result is a pure, fruit-driven, carbonic-style Loire Franc with almost no tannin — effortless and unforgettable.