Bruno Duchêne

Originally from Loir-et-Cher, it was in 2002 that Bruno Duchêne took on the crazy challenge of creating his estate which today has 4 hectares of vines. 4 ha composed mainly of white, black and gray Grenache and 10% of Carignan planted on steep hillsides, at 300m altitude on the arid terroirs of Banyuls and Collioure. Bruno works his vines overlooking the magnificent Côte Vermeille, like a gardener works his vegetable garden. Here the yields are extremely low and for good reason, the vines are rooted on steep shale slopes or on steep terraces with sea views. Here mechanical work of the vines is impossible, plowing is done by hand, with a winch. and/or on horseback, or on the back of a mule to be more exact! The vines are between 15 years old (for Grenache Blancs) and 70 years old. This magnificent but harsh environment nevertheless has certain advantages: thanks to the Tramontana, these plots are very little exposed to cryptogamic diseases, which therefore greatly limits the number of treatments. In the cellar, Bruno has chosen to work in a natural way, his goal: gentle vinification with as little intervention as possible, favoring infusions rather than extraction, and of course without adding sulfur. Barrel aging can then take place. As a result, Bruno Duchêne offers us wines full of particular freshness, supple, distinguished, fine and digestible, a true work of goldsmithing! Airy wines, a bit unlike what you can find in the region, with an almost confidential production since Bruno produces on average between 7,000 and 10,000 bottles per year. Nuggets we tell you!