CATHERINE & PIERRE BRETON

Catherine and Pierre Breton and their children live in a hamlet of Restigné in the heart of the Bourgueil appellation. Catherine and Pierre Breton burst into the Paris wine scene in the 1990's. Their wines were then, as they are now, distinctive, compelling and, well, so new. Ironically, the new was based on the old. Catherine and Pierre made the conscious choice to grow grapes and make their wines the way their ancestors did - organic viticulture, hand harvests, indigenious yeasts, neutral barrels and no filtration. The vines have been farmed organically since 1987 and biodynamically since 1999. Catherine & Pierre Breton wines have distinctiveness and deliciousness that I associate with great artisans of France.

BOURGUEIL AVIS DE VIN FORT

This wine is macerated for about a week. The wine is aged in neutral barrels briefly for about 4 to 6 months prior to bottling without filtration. The vines are on gravelly soil. This wine has feather body and is best slightly chilled. 'Avis de Vin Fort' is a play on words meaning 'Strong Winds' are in forecast, which meant sailors should take a cover on shores and drink wine instead.


BOURGUEIL TRINCH!

The skins from 'AVIS DE VIN FORT' is added to the TRINCH!, where the maceration last for typically 2 to 3 weeks. TRINCH! is a German expression meaning 'Cheers!', championed by the Loire's famous writer and philosopher Rabelais. The vines are grown on gravelly soil.


EPAULÉ JETÉ

This wine is made from 100% Grolleau. Grolleau grape, when grown and vinified well, makes happy, easy-going, and ravishing wine that wants to have sex with all types of foods. This varietal used to be common in Bourgueil before its appellation was declared in 1937. Catherine & Pierre Breton finally found a small parcel of Grolleau on a prime site.


BOURGUEIL LES GALICHETS

From the vines surrounding the domain, where the terroir is gravelly. The vines are old and vinification is tradtional. This wine is aged for about a year before bottling.


VOUVRAY LA DILETTANTE SEC

From the Chenin vines grown on flinty soil. The grapes are pressed gently and bottled in the following spring. Catherine and Pierre share all aspect of work in the cellar and vineyards but this Vouvray is entirely hers. Catherine's family is from Vouvray.


VOUVRAY LA DILETTANTE BRUT METHODE TRADITIONELLE NV

A sparkling made in the traditional Champagne method. This is lively, zesty and pure sparkler made from Chenin Blanc. This sparlking sees about 24 months before the wine is bottled and disgorged. It is a blend of two vintages and hence Non-Vintage (NV). A Vouvray sparkler made traditionally like this has a long life and improves in cool cellars.


BOURGUEIL NUITS D'IVRESS

'Nuits d'Ivresse', meaning 'Drunken Nights', is a cuveé made from very old vines on a slope with clay and limestone. This wine is aged in neutral barrels for just over a year. This is the only wine that sees zero sulphur from fermentation to bottling. The first vintage was 1992. It is best to keep this wine cool. This wine ages well.


BOURGUEIL CLOS SÉNÉCHAL

'Clos Senechal' is one of the top Bourgueil terroirs. It is clay on top with pure white limestone chalk underneath. One can see the white limestone, which was quarried to build farm houses nearby. One can still see the limestone that was used to build a wall around this Clos. This wine is fermented using traditional open-top wooden vats. The wine is aged in neutral barrels for 18-24 months. This wine ages gracefully. Bretons have just over 1 hectare of Clos Senechal. Decanting is recommended.


BOURGUEIL LES PERRIÈRES

'Les Perrières' is the top Bourgueil terroir for the Bretons. It is sandstone on top with pure white limestone chalk underneath. The vines are over 70 years old. The yield is always low for this terroir. This wine is fermented using traditional open-top wooden vats. The wine is aged in neutral barrels for 24 to 30 months. This wine ages gracefully. Bretons have just 1 hectare of this terroir. Decanting is recommended.


CHINON BEAUMONT

This great historical site in Chinon is from parcels on a hill with clay on top and limestone underneath. The exposure is south. The vinification is traditional with open-top fermenters. This wine is raised is neutrl barrels for about a year before bottling without filtration. This wine also ages beautifully.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Region: Loire

Appellations: Bourgueil, Chinon, Vouvray

Size: 11 hectares

Viticulture: Organic & Biodynamic - ECOCERT & DEMETER Certified

Producer Website: Domaine Breton


LABELS

Not current vintages. Shown for sample purposes only.