Pinot Noir
Natural, Organic, Vegan-Friendly
Dry
Medium Bodied
750ml
13.5% alc./vol

Domaine Frédéric Brouca Foulage Gaulois Pinot Noir VDF 2021

Languedoc-Roussillon, France

90 points - Wine Align

$25.95per bottle ($311.40per case)
12 bottles per case

Floral & Spicy

Unlike many winemakers, Frederic Brouca is largely self-taught and took no formal courses on viticulture or winemaking. His concept of growing grapes and winemaking focuses on reducing human intervention in the processes, and making it as natural as possible.

This Foulage Gaulois Rouge is Brouca's first Pinot Noir. It comes from a single vineyard in St. Chinian, Languedoc; and it has been aged in a mix of amphora and stainless steel.

Subtle aromas of cranberry and sweet cherry. Floral and spicy. Medium-bodied with ripe tannins and acidity to keep it alive. Structured and textured. Perfumed rather than overpowering.

Unfined, unfiltered with minimal sulfur added at bottling.

Press Reviews

Wine Align

90 points - Michael Godel

Brouca’s pinot noir is called “Foulage Gaulois,” literally “Gallic Treading,” a reference to feet stomping grapes and history tells us the Gauls were big on the fermented stuff. Their interest goes back to the fourth century and the Romans were quite fond of their work. Fréderic’s carries a seriously carbonic varietal impact with high tonality, great freshness and a piney herbal character. Quite minty evergreen and open knit though really light within its bushy parameters. Drink 2023-2025. Tasted January 2023.

90 points - John Szabo, MS

A low intervention, 'natural' pinot, unfined and unfiltered from 25 year-old organically-farmed hillside vineyards in the south of France (Faugères region) with evident spicy-herbal whole bunch (stem) inclusion in the ferment. I like the dried herb and herbal tea, pot pourri and spiced cherry chutney flavours, the zesty acids, the firm and dusty but forgiving tannins. Length and depth are solid. A well-made, innovative take on pinot noir from a region that really shouldn't be growing pinot noir, managing to maintain freshness and composure against the odds. A cool, wet growing season surely helped the liveliness along. This is well worth a look, and it's totally free from deviations. Drink or hold short term. Tasted January 2023.