Le Galouchey 'VDJ' 2019

Domaine de Galouchey is one of the most idiosyncratic estates in Bordeaux, nestled in the Entre-deux-Mers appellation, but prefers to label its wine as simple Vin de France.

Planted with all the permitted grape varieties of the region – Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Carmenère, Petit Verdot, Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, and Muscadelle – by Jean Terrade and Gérard Pantanacce in 2002, the 0.94ha vineyard has been farmed organically since day one.

After being hand-harvested at low yields, the fruit is hand-destemmed and co-fermented with wild yeasts, before undergoing elevage in old oak barrels with minimal sulphur dioxide additions. The wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered.

In 2009, Terrade and Pantanacce persuaded renowned sommelier Marco Pelletier to join the team and their ‘Vin de Jardin’ (a riposte to the 'Vins de Garage' moniker given to so many small Saint-Emilion estates in the 1990s) has since developed a cult following among drinkers who are tired of Bordeaux’s corporate affectations.

Combining weight, body, and silken texture with incredible freshness and drinkability, ‘Vin de Jardin’ is different in every way to all those identikit Clarets that flood the market.