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2022 Bourgueil Clairet “Avis de Vin Fort”
Catherine & Pierre BretonCatherine and Pierre describe this light, spring red as “cabernet franc like a sea breeze.” There’s lots of fresh fruit with little tannins. The wine’s name is a reference to the maritime warning “Avis de Vent Fort” (meaning strong winds are in the forecast), is a play on words to evoke the idea that if the weather is bad, one should sail back to shore and have a glass of wine instead.
—Dustin Soiseth
Wine Type: | red |
Vintage: | 2022 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Cabernet Franc |
Appellation: | Bourgueil |
Country: | France |
Region: | Loire |
Producer: | Catherine & Pierre Breton |
Vineyard: | 40-50 years |
Soil: | Gravel, clay, limestone |
Farming: | Biodynamic (certified) |
Alcohol: | 12.5% |
More from this Producer or Region
2020 Bourgueil “Nuits d’Ivresse”
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2022 Val de Loire Rouge Grolleau
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A delicate, aromatic red in the “drink now!” vein.
2019 Vouvray “Bois Guyon”
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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.
2021 Bourgueil “Franc de Pied”
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2019 Bourgueil “Les Perrières”
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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
Vouvray Brut “La Dilettante”
Catherine & Pierre Breton France | Loire
2019 Saumur Blanc “L’Échelier”
Thierry Germain France | Loire
2022 Chinon Rosé
Charles Joguet France | Loire
2021 Bourgeuil “Cuvée Beauvais”
Domaine de la Chanteleuserie France | Loire
2022 Pouilly-Fumé “Vieilles Vignes”
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2020 Chinon “Le Clos Guillot”
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2022 Reuilly Pinot Noir
Domaine de Reuilly France | Loire
2019 Vouvray “Le Portail”
Champalou France | Loire
2021 Bourgueil “Cuvée Alouettes”
Domaine de la Chanteleuserie France | Loire
2022 Chinon Rosé
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2022 Chardonnay
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2021 Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil “Irène”
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Vouvray Brut “La Dilettante”
Catherine & Pierre Breton France | Loire
2019 Saumur Blanc “L’Échelier”
Thierry Germain France | Loire
2022 Chinon Rosé
Charles Joguet France | Loire
2021 Bourgeuil “Cuvée Beauvais”
Domaine de la Chanteleuserie France | Loire
2022 Pouilly-Fumé “Vieilles Vignes”
Régis Minet France | Loire
2020 Chinon “Le Clos Guillot”
Bernard Baudry France | Loire
2022 Reuilly Pinot Noir
Domaine de Reuilly France | Loire
2019 Vouvray “Le Portail”
Champalou France | Loire
2021 Bourgueil “Cuvée Alouettes”
Domaine de la Chanteleuserie France | Loire
2022 Chinon Rosé
Bernard Baudry France | Loire
2022 Chardonnay
Eric Chevalier France | Loire
2021 Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil “Irène”
Domaine de la Chanteleuserie France | Loire
Kermit once said...
Kermit once said...
Great winemakers, great terroirs, there is never any hurry. And I no longer buy into this idea of “peak” maturity. Great winemakers, great terroirs, their wines offer different pleasures at different ages.
Inspiring Thirst, page 312