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2023 Vin de France Brut Nature “Elle est pas bulle, la vie?”
Catherine & Pierre BretonCatherine and Pierre Breton’s son, Paul, has set up his own cellar in Vouvray, about thirty miles upriver of the family's headquarters in the Bourgueil appellation. He focuses exclusively on whites, and this festive pet-nat is new addition to the Breton lineup conceived and executed entirely by Paul. This is delicious and honest naturally sparkling Chenin, bottled with no dosage and no sulfur.
—Anthony Lynch
Wine Type: | sparkling |
Vintage: | 2023 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Chenin Blanc |
Appellation: | Vin de France |
Country: | France |
Region: | Loire |
Producer: | Catherine & Pierre Breton |
Winemaker: | Paul Breton |
Vineyard: | Planted around 1960, 1 ha |
Soil: | Clay, Siliceous |
Aging: | Aged 11 months on lees |
Farming: | Organic (certified) |
Alcohol: | 11% |
More from this Producer or Region
Vouvray Brut “La Dilettante”
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Dry Champagne-method sparkler that delivers tremendous value.
2023 Val de Loire Rouge Grolleau
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This wine in the Breton book is a pure old-vine Grolleau from soils of clay and silex.
2022 Chinon “Beaux Monts”
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Sourced from the village of Beaumont, located within the Chinon AOC, it is utterly delicious, with a perfect balance of fruit and earth.
2022 Bourgueil Rosé “La Ritournelle”
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Brisk red-fruited twang, some herbaceous zest, and an absolutely mouthwatering zingy finish.
2021 Bourgueil “La Dilettante”
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A delicate, aromatic red in the “drink now!” vein.
2019 Bourgueil “Les Perrières”
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The family’s grandest wine, a brooding elixir of satiny fruit, cedar, and graphite.
2023 Bourgueil “Trinch!”
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Peppery and bright, earthy and juicy all at once.
2020 Bourgueil “Nuits d’Ivresse”
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Bottled without any sulfur whatsoever, here is a seriously playful Cab Franc from the masters of vinous fun.
2021 Bourgueil “Clos Sénéchal”
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This divine red allies the power and finesse one would expect from this great terroir.
2019 Vouvray “Bois Guyon”
France | Loire
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.
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
2021 Saumur Blanc “L’Insolite”
Thierry Germain France | Loire
2019 Bourgueil “Les Perrières”
Catherine & Pierre Breton France | Loire
2020 Saumur-Champigny “Franc de Pied”
Thierry Germain France | Loire
2019 Chinon “Clos du Chêne Vert”
Charles Joguet France | Loire
2021 Chinon “Cuvée Terroir”
Charles Joguet France | Loire
2022 Saumur Champigny “Cuvée Domaine”
Domaine des Roches Neuves France | Loire
2023 Sancerre
Domaine Roger Neveu France | Loire
2023 Muscadet Côtes de Grand Lieu sur lie “La Nöe”
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2022 Chinon Blanc
Bernard Baudry France | Loire
2021 Chinon “Les Grézeaux”
Bernard Baudry France | Loire
2022 Savennières “Cuvée Spéciale”
Château d’Epiré France | Loire
2022 Anjou Rouge “Clos de la Cerisaie”
Château d'Epiré France | Loire
2021 Saumur Blanc “L’Insolite”
Thierry Germain France | Loire
2019 Bourgueil “Les Perrières”
Catherine & Pierre Breton France | Loire
2020 Saumur-Champigny “Franc de Pied”
Thierry Germain France | Loire
2019 Chinon “Clos du Chêne Vert”
Charles Joguet France | Loire
2021 Chinon “Cuvée Terroir”
Charles Joguet France | Loire
2022 Saumur Champigny “Cuvée Domaine”
Domaine des Roches Neuves France | Loire
2023 Sancerre
Domaine Roger Neveu France | Loire
2023 Muscadet Côtes de Grand Lieu sur lie “La Nöe”
Eric Chevalier France | Loire
2022 Chinon Blanc
Bernard Baudry France | Loire
2021 Chinon “Les Grézeaux”
Bernard Baudry France | Loire
2022 Savennières “Cuvée Spéciale”
Château d’Epiré France | Loire
2022 Anjou Rouge “Clos de la Cerisaie”
Château d'Epiré France | Loire
Kermit once said...
Kermit once said...
A good doctor prescribed the wine of Nuits-Saint-Georges to the Sun King, Louis XIV, when he suffered an unknown maladie. When the king’s health was restored the tasty remedy enjoyed a vogue at court. Lord, send me a doctor like that!
Inspiring Thirst, page 117