Bertrand Galbrun, Bourgueil 'Amicale', 2022

The sensitive and humble Bertrand Galbrun works 4.7ha of vines, three of which are found on sand and gravel, usually a few meters deep before reaching the limestone bedrock. In 2019 he added 0.65ha to his holdings of prime terroir on tuffeau, with a plot located right above Pierre Breton’s famous Clos Sénéchal and surrounded by woods. It is one of the very best terroirs of the appellation where he planted cabernet franc as well as chenin – a rarity locally since chenin is not part of the AC. Bertrand and a group of producers are currently lobbying the INAO to create the Bourgueil Blanc appellation. Certified Demeter since 2015, Bertrand is part of a group of about ten vignerons, in Bourgueil and Saint-Nicolas, who pull together (usually chez Bertrand!) to make their biodynamic preparations and minimize costs and labour. He is a hard worker and farms the 4.7ha on his own, sometimes assisted by a seasonal employee in the busier summer months. In the cellar, he likes to make wines that are pure and direct as he tries to interfere as little as possible. He favours low extraction with minimal pigeage or remontage during fermentation, preferring to work essentially by infusion.