# Pierre-Olivier Bonhomme Le Telquel Rouge (2023)

- **Producer:** Pierre-Olivier Bonhomme
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Gamay, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Côt
- **Region:** Loire, France
- **Style:** Natural
- **Alcohol:** 12.0%
- **Average price:** €20
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** No
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 12–14 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** cherry, raspberry, blackberry, violet, black pepper, mint

## About this wine

Domaine Pierre-Olivier Bonhomme evolved from the Puzelat-Bonhomme négoce project formed with Thierry Puzelat of Clos du Tue-Boeuf. Located in Monthou-sur-Bièvre within France's Loire Valley, the estate focuses on low-intervention farming and minimalist cellar practices. The cuvée name 'Le Telquel' translates to 'just as it is', reflecting a philosophy centered on pure expression of fruit from organically farmed vineyards in Touraine.

## Interesting facts

- The name 'Telquel' is a pun on 'Teckel', the French word for Dachshund, which is depicted on the bottle label.
- The label phrase 'Un Poil Dur' translates to 'wire-haired' and playfully hints at the wine's raw, rustic nature.
- Pierre-Olivier started as a teenage harvest worker before becoming a business partner and eventual sole owner.

## Food pairing

Bright acidity and light tannins make this natural red exceptionally food-friendly. It pairs seamlessly with charcuterie, white meats, and earth-driven vegetarian dishes where high acidity cuts through richness without dry tannins clashing with soft proteins.

## Wine making process

Hand-harvested grapes undergo whole-cluster, spontaneous fermentation using indigenous yeasts in large open-top wooden tronconic vats with semi-carbonic maceration for 15 days. The wine is aged for 6 months in old oak barrels and tronconic vats before being bottled unfined and unfiltered with no or minimal added sulfur.