Notify me
2017 Bourgueil “Clos Sénéchal”
Catherine & Pierre BretonThe Bretons may act carefree, but their immense pride in the Loire and the AOCs of the Touraine region mean they are committed to making serious wines, too. The historical Clos Sénéchal, a top terroir bottling from the estate, marries sapid old-vine fruit with healthy soils of clay, limestone, and tuffeau. The resulting wine is a spicy, plummy treat that tastes three-dimensional and ages like a fine Pinot.
Wine Type: | red |
Vintage: | 2017 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Cabernet Franc |
Appellation: | Bourgueil |
Country: | France |
Region: | Loire |
Producer: | Catherine & Pierre Breton |
Winemaker: | Catherine & Pierre Breton |
Vineyard: | 40 years, 1.3 ha |
Soil: | Gravel, Clay, Limestone |
Aging: | The wine is macerated in open wood vats and fermented and aged in wooden foudres. It is bottled without fining or filtration after 18 months of aging. |
Farming: | Biodynamic (certified) |
Alcohol: | 13% |
More from this Producer or Region
2020 Vouvray “Pierres Rousses”
France | Loire
This wine is deep and textural, with serious presence on the palate and a dry, flinty finish.
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 “Clos Sénéchal”
France | Loire
This divine red allies the power and finesse one would expect from this great terroir.
2022 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.
2022 Bourgueil “Trinch!”
France | Loire
Peppery and bright, earthy and juicy all at once.
2020 Vouvray “La Dilettante”
France | Loire
Delicate, precise, and succulent at the same time, this beautiful blanc will pair well with fresh seafood and light summer salads and pastas.
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.
2021 Bourgueil “La Dilettante”
France | Loire
A delicate, aromatic red in the “drink now!” vein.
2022 Bourgueil Rosé “La Ritournelle”
France | Loire
Brisk red-fruited twang, some herbaceous zest, and an absolutely mouthwatering zingy finish.
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
2020 Vouvray “La Dilettante”
Catherine & Pierre Breton France | Loire
2020 Chinon “Le Clos Guillot”
Bernard Baudry France | Loire
2021 Sancerre “Les Coutones”
Daniel Chotard France | Loire
2022 Quincy “Vieilles Vignes”
Domaine Trotereau France | Loire
2018 Vouvray “La Moelleuse”
Champalou France | Loire
2022 Vin de France Rouge “Le Martray”
Grange Saint Sauveur France | Loire
2021 Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil “Irène”
Domaine de la Chanteleuserie France | Loire
2020 Vouvray “Pierres Rousses”
Catherine & Pierre Breton France | Loire
2019 Vin de France Rouge Grolleau/Cabernet Franc “Clandestine”
Grange Saint-Sauveur France | Loire
2020 Saumur-Champigny “Franc de Pied”
Thierry Germain France | Loire
Vouvray Brut
Champalou France | Loire
2022 Jasnières
Pascal Janvier France | Loire
2020 Vouvray “La Dilettante”
Catherine & Pierre Breton France | Loire
2020 Chinon “Le Clos Guillot”
Bernard Baudry France | Loire
2021 Sancerre “Les Coutones”
Daniel Chotard France | Loire
2022 Quincy “Vieilles Vignes”
Domaine Trotereau France | Loire
2018 Vouvray “La Moelleuse”
Champalou France | Loire
2022 Vin de France Rouge “Le Martray”
Grange Saint Sauveur France | Loire
2021 Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil “Irène”
Domaine de la Chanteleuserie France | Loire
2020 Vouvray “Pierres Rousses”
Catherine & Pierre Breton France | Loire
2019 Vin de France Rouge Grolleau/Cabernet Franc “Clandestine”
Grange Saint-Sauveur France | Loire
2020 Saumur-Champigny “Franc de Pied”
Thierry Germain France | Loire
Vouvray Brut
Champalou France | Loire
2022 Jasnières
Pascal Janvier France | Loire
Kermit once said...
Kermit once said...
If you're looking for value, look where no one else is looking.
Inspiring Thirst, page 211