Catherine & Pierre Breton "Elle est pas Bulle, la Vie?" Rosé Brut, Loire Valley, France 2023

FROM KERMIT LYNCH:

THE WINE: Cartoonist Michel Tolmer depicts a joyous scene on the label of this pét-nat: two bon vivants sharing not one but two bottles of sparkling rosé, bubbles flowing confetti-like from their glasses. Made from 100% Grolleau in the méthode traditionnelle style with no dosage, Paul Breton has bottled this same joie de vivre. It’s refreshingly bright on the palate, flush with delicate notes of strawberry rhubarb, and dangerously quaffable. So look no further for the perfect apéritif to close out the work day or usher in the weekend. “Elle est pas bulle, la vie?” as they say chez Breton. Life isn’t so bad.

THE PRODUCER: Catherine and Pierre Breton are real life bon vivants vignerons of lore. They are passionate about what they do, enjoy sharing it with others, and entertain with a generosity and charm. That they make great wine with such integrity makes our appreciation of them complete. The Bretons farm 11 hectares just east of Bourgueil in the village of Restigné. They produce Chinon, Bourgueil, and a bit of Vouvray, creating honest wines for both early consumption and aging. The Bretons received organic certification in 1991 and recently began the three-year process of seeking biodynamic certification. They’ve become international icons for the natural wine movement in an area where the climate and soil can make organic viticulture difficult.