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2023 Bourgueil “Trinch!”
Catherine & Pierre BretonDinner with the Breton family
The Bretons
France Breton amidst the Trinch vines
Paul Breton
It’s rare for anyone (much less vignerons, who work long days) to be pillars of the community, unofficial appellation ambassadors, bons vivants, cultural icons, and produce village-defining wines all at once. But then again, Catherine and Pierre Breton—along with their daughter France and son Paul—are highly unusual, genuine heroes of French wine, with a seemingly inexhaustible spirit and joie de vivre that courses through all of their endeavors.
Named for a German expression meaning “cheers,” championed by the poet and philosopher Rabelais, their Trinch! cuvée embodies this energy. One of their most lithe and quaffable rouges, it is a joyous and pure expression of Bourgueil Cabernet Franc, full of leafy, brambly, and graceful charm. Vinified in stainless steel tanks, using a cold maceration, and bottled in the spring after harvest, this bottling is all about accessible fruit, soft tannins, and low alcohol. Open it at apéro hour, or serve it alongside a lentil and potato salad for a light and uplifting winter meal.
—Tom Wolf
Wine Type: | red |
Vintage: | 2023 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Cabernet Franc |
Appellation: | Bourgeuil |
Country: | France |
Region: | Loire |
Producer: | Catherine & Pierre Breton |
Winemaker: | Catherine & Pierre Breton |
Vineyard: | 30 years, 5 ha |
Soil: | Gravel |
Aging: | Vinified in stainless steel with a cold maceration |
Farming: | Biodynamic (certified) |
Alcohol: | 12.5% |
More from this Producer or Region
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.
2022 Bourgueil Rosé “La Ritournelle”
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Brisk red-fruited twang, some herbaceous zest, and an absolutely mouthwatering zingy finish.
2022 Bourgueil “Franc de Pied”
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Serve it with a slight chill, and you’ll have a satisfyingly fresh red with medium fruit and a light dusting of herbs and tannin.
2023 Vin de France Brut Nature “Elle est pas bulle, la vie?”
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December Club Gourmand ~ Delicious and honest naturally sparkling Chenin, bottled with no dosage and no sulfur.
2021 Bourgueil “La Dilettante”
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A delicate, aromatic red in the “drink now!” vein.
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.
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.
2023 Vouvray “La Dilettante”
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Delicate, precise, and succulent at the same time, this beautiful blanc will pair well with fresh seafood and light summer salads and pastas.
Vouvray Brut “La Dilettante”
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Dry Champagne-method sparkler that delivers tremendous value.
2019 Bourgueil “Les Perrières”
France | Loire
The family’s grandest wine, a brooding elixir of satiny fruit, cedar, and graphite.
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
2023 Saumur Blanc “L’Insolite”
Thierry Germain France | Loire
2021 Chinon Blanc “Les Charmes”
Charles Joguet France | Loire
2022 Bourgueil Clairet “Avis de Vin Fort”
Catherine & Pierre Breton France | Loire
2022 Chinon “Les Grézeaux”
Bernard Baudry France | Loire
2022 Chinon Blanc
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2023 Coteaux du Loir Blanc
Pascal Janvier France | Loire
2022 Bourgueil “Franc de Pied”
Catherine & Pierre Breton France | Loire
Vouvray Brut
Champalou France | Loire
2023 Grolleau “Franc de Pied”
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2020 Saumur-Champigny “Franc de Pied”
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2023 Bourgueil Rosé
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2023 Jasnières
Pascal Janvier France | Loire
2023 Saumur Blanc “L’Insolite”
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2021 Chinon Blanc “Les Charmes”
Charles Joguet France | Loire
2022 Bourgueil Clairet “Avis de Vin Fort”
Catherine & Pierre Breton France | Loire
2022 Chinon “Les Grézeaux”
Bernard Baudry France | Loire
2022 Chinon Blanc
Bernard Baudry France | Loire
2023 Coteaux du Loir Blanc
Pascal Janvier France | Loire
2022 Bourgueil “Franc de Pied”
Catherine & Pierre Breton France | Loire
Vouvray Brut
Champalou France | Loire
2023 Grolleau “Franc de Pied”
Bernard Baudry France | Loire
2020 Saumur-Champigny “Franc de Pied”
Thierry Germain France | Loire
2023 Bourgueil Rosé
Domaine de la Chanteleuserie France | Loire
2023 Jasnières
Pascal Janvier France | Loire
Vintage Chart Mentality
Vintage Chart Mentality
Trust the great winemakers, trust the great vineyards. Your wine merchant might even be trustworthy. In the long run, that vintage strip may be the least important guide to quality on your bottle of wine.—Kermit Lynch