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2017 Vouvray “La Dilettante”
Catherine & Pierre Breton
Although Catherine and Pierre Breton are known primarily for their Cabernet Francs from Bourgueil and Chinon, they also craft a sparkler as well as a few whites from Catherine’s home AOC, Vouvray. In 2002, about a decade and a half after they began making reds, Catherine turned to her parents’ domaine to source the Chenin Blanc grapes for these newer bottlings. Today, Catherine and Pierre are joined by their daughter, France, and son, Paul, who shows a particular interest in the white wines. Reflecting the at times dramatic vintage variation of this slice of the Loire Valley, the Bretons’ Vouvrays are incredibly transparent vintage after vintage. In some years—2016, for example— La Dilettante canbe slightly tendre, even while retaining a sturdy spine of acidity and minerality. This 2017, by contrast, is dry, floral, and all lean muscle, with notes of pear, green apple, and Meyer lemon. Delicate, precise, and succulent at the same time, this beautiful blanc will pair well with fresh seafood and light summer salads and pastas.
—Tom Wolf
Wine Type: | white |
Vintage: | 2017 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Chenin Blanc |
Appellation: | Vouvray |
Country: | France |
Region: | Loire |
Producer: | Catherine & Pierre Breton |
Winemaker: | Catherine & Pierre Breton |
Vineyard: | 40 years, 5 ha |
Soil: | Clay, Limestone |
Aging: | There is no maloactic fermentation and the wine is bottled in the spring following harvest |
Farming: | Organic (certified) |
Alcohol: | 13% |
More from this Producer or Region

2023 Val de Loire Rouge Grolleau
France | Loire
This wine in the Breton book is a pure old-vine Grolleau from soils of clay and silex.

2023 Vouvray “Pierres Rousses”
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This wine is deep and textural, with serious presence on the palate and a dry, flinty finish.

2019 Vouvray “Bois Guyon”
France | Loire
Unique in its combination of honeyed richness and flinty verve. Hard to resist on its own, but you might also try serving it with salty-sweet yakitori or buffalo chicken wings.

2021 Bourgueil “La Dilettante”
France | Loire
A delicate, aromatic red in the “drink now!” vein.

2023 Vin de France Brut Nature “Elle est pas bulle, la vie?”
France | Loire
Delicious and honest naturally sparkling Chenin, bottled with no dosage and no sulfur.

2020 Bourgueil “Les Perrières”
France | Loire
The family’s grandest wine, a brooding elixir of satiny fruit, cedar, and graphite.

2023 Bourgueil “Trinch!”
France | Loire
May Club Chevalier ~ Peppery and bright, earthy and juicy all at once.

2022 Bourgueil Clairet “Avis de Vin Fort”
France | Loire
Fresh and punchy Cabernet Franc from fun-loving Catherine and Pierre Breton. Light, juicy, and ready to go. Drink young, drink chilled, drink plenty.

2019 Bourgueil “Les Perrières”
France | Loire
The family’s grandest wine, a brooding elixir of satiny fruit, cedar, and graphite.

Vouvray Brut “La Dilettante”
France | Loire
Dry Champagne-method sparkler that delivers tremendous value.
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 Kimmeridgian 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
2018 Saumur Blanc “L’Échelier”
Thierry Germain France | Loire
2019 Bourgueil “Les Perrières”
Catherine & Pierre Breton France | Loire
2023 Reuilly Pinot Gris Rosé
Domaine de Reuilly France | Loire
2016 Jasnières “Chant de Vigne”
Christine de Mianville France | Loire
2022 Chinon “Les Petites Roches”
Charles Joguet France | Loire
2019 Chinon “Clos du Chêne Vert”
Charles Joguet France | Loire
2020 Bourgueil “Les Perrières”
Catherine & Pierre Breton France | Loire
2023 Vouvray “Pierres Rousses”
Catherine & Pierre Breton France | Loire
2024 Coteaux du Loir Rouge “Cuvée du Rosier”
Pascal Janvier France | Loire
2023 Saumur Champigny “Cuvée Domaine”
Thierry Germain France | Loire
2021 Saumur Champigny “Terres Chaudes”
Domaine des Roches Neuves France | Loire
2020 Saumur Blanc “Terres”
Thierry Germain France | Loire
2018 Saumur Blanc “L’Échelier”
Thierry Germain France | Loire
2019 Bourgueil “Les Perrières”
Catherine & Pierre Breton France | Loire
2023 Reuilly Pinot Gris Rosé
Domaine de Reuilly France | Loire
2016 Jasnières “Chant de Vigne”
Christine de Mianville France | Loire
2022 Chinon “Les Petites Roches”
Charles Joguet France | Loire
2019 Chinon “Clos du Chêne Vert”
Charles Joguet France | Loire
2020 Bourgueil “Les Perrières”
Catherine & Pierre Breton France | Loire
2023 Vouvray “Pierres Rousses”
Catherine & Pierre Breton France | Loire
2024 Coteaux du Loir Rouge “Cuvée du Rosier”
Pascal Janvier France | Loire
2023 Saumur Champigny “Cuvée Domaine”
Thierry Germain France | Loire
2021 Saumur Champigny “Terres Chaudes”
Domaine des Roches Neuves France | Loire
2020 Saumur Blanc “Terres”
Thierry Germain France | Loire
Kermit once said...

Kermit once said...
You don’t have to be rich to cellar a great wine.