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2014 Bourgueil “Les Perrières”
Catherine & Pierre BretonThe phrase “pencil lead” is often listed among the typical aromas of Cabernet Franc, and here’s a classic example of that. One sniff and you’ll be transported back to grade school, a razor-sharp Ticonderoga No. 2 in hand. The 2013 “Les Perrières” is delicious now and already developing the alluring secondary notes of a mature wine. Savory and earthy notes are side by side with youthful fruit. Youthfulness and maturity together, like the fresh-faced, young teacher you had a crush on in the third grade.
—Dustin Soiseth
Wine Type: | red |
Vintage: | 2014 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Cabernet Franc |
Appellation: | Bourgueil |
Country: | France |
Region: | Loire |
Producer: | Catherine & Pierre Breton |
Winemaker: | Catherine & Pierre Breton |
Farming: | Organic (certified) |
Alcohol: | 13% |
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This wine in the Breton book is a pure old-vine Grolleau from soils of clay and silex.
2022 Bourgueil Rosé “La Ritournelle”
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Brisk red-fruited twang, some herbaceous zest, and an absolutely mouthwatering zingy finish.
2019 Bourgueil “Clos Sénéchal”
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2021 Chinon “Beaux Monts”
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For this Vouvray, Paul has opted for a demi-sec style utterly unique in its combination of honeyed richness and flinty verve. This bottling is hard to resist on its own, but you might also try serving it with a simple cheese platter.
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About The Producer
Catherine & Pierre Breton
About The Region
Loire
The defining feature of the Loire Valley, not surprisingly, is the Loire River. As the longest river in France, spanning more than 600 miles, this river connects seemingly disparate wine regions. Why else would Sancerre, with its Kimmeridgian limestone terroir be connected to Muscadet, an appellation that is 250 miles away?
Secondary in relevance to the historical, climatic, environmental, and cultural importance of the river are the wines and châteaux of the Jardin de la France. The kings and nobility of France built many hundreds of châteaux in the Loire but wine preceded the arrival of the noblesse and has since out-lived them as well.
Diversity abounds in the Loire. The aforementioned Kimmderidgian limestone of Sancerre is also found in Chablis. Chinon, Bourgueil, and Saumur boast the presence of tuffeau, a type of limestone unique to the Loire that has a yellowish tinge and a chalky texture. Savennières has schist, while Muscadet has volcanic, granite, and serpentinite based soils. In addition to geologic diversity, many, grape varieties are grown there too: Cabernet Franc, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, and Melon de Bourgogne are most prevalent, but (to name a few) Pinot Gris, Grolleau, Pinot Noir, Pineau d’Aunis, and Folle Blanche are also planted. These myriad of viticultural influences leads to the high quality production of every type of wine: red, white, rosé, sparkling, and dessert.
Like the Rhône and Provence, some of Kermit’s first imports came from the Loire, most notably the wines of Charles Joguet and Château d’Epiré—two producers who are featured in Kermit’s book Adventures on the Wine Route and with whom we still work today.
More from Loire or France
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2021 Chinon
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2022 Bourgueil Rosé “La Ritournelle”
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2019 Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Clisson “La Molette”
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2022 Muscadet “Le Clos de la Butte”
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2021 Saumur Mousseux “Bulles de Roche”
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2019 Sancerre Rouge “Champs d’Alligny”
Daniel Chotard France | Loire
2018 Vouvray “La Moelleuse”
Champalou France | Loire
2020 Saumur Blanc “Clos Romans”
Thierry Germain France | Loire
2022 Chinon Rosé
Charles Joguet France | Loire
2021 Chinon
Bernard Baudry France | Loire
2022 Bourgueil Rosé “La Ritournelle”
Catherine & Pierre Breton France | Loire
2022 Saumur Champigny “La Foulée”
Domaine des Roches Neuves France | Loire
2019 Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Clisson “La Molette”
Domaine Michel Brégeon France | Loire
2022 Muscadet “Le Clos de la Butte”
Eric Chevalier France | Loire
2021 Chinon “Les Grézeaux”
Bernard Baudry France | Loire
2022 Reuilly Pinot Gris Rosé
Domaine de Reuilly France | Loire
Vintage Chart Mentality
Vintage Chart Mentality
Trust the great winemakers, trust the great vineyards. Your wine merchant might even be trustworthy. In the long run, that vintage strip may be the least important guide to quality on your bottle of wine.—Kermit Lynch