Catherine & Pierre Breton "La Dilettante" Vouvray, Loire Valley, France 2023

FROM KERMIT LYNCH:

THE WINE: 100% Chenin Blanc. While Catherine and Pierre work together in the vines and the cellar for all the Breton wines, the Vouvrays are Catherine’s pet project (along with the Bourgueil Dilettante below). The wine comes from 40-year old Chenin Blanc vines planted in flinty soil. A very gentle pressing is followed by a short vinification in stainless steel. There is no maloactic fermentation and the wine is bottled in the spring following harvest. Made for immediate consumption.

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.