Pierre & Catherine Breton - La Dilettante 2011

For more than two decades, Catherine and Pierre Breton and their son Paul have demonstrated that organic wine from Touraine can reach new heights while remaining reasonably priced. Their extended maceration periods allow the velvety texture to beautifully complement the pure fruit character of all their wines. Their Bourgueil wines, which come from 10 hectares of vineyards, regularly feature in our blind tastings. Trinch is an honest wine, and the top vintages absolutely must be decanted 2 to 3 hours before serving to fully appreciate the juiciness of Nuits-d’Ivresse, the purity of Perrières, and the chalky note of Clos-Sénéchal. One of the most refreshing finds in the Loire—definitely worth exploring!

For more than twenty years, Catherine and Pierre Breton have been successfully carving out their niche in organic wine in Touraine. Their son Paul has joined them at the estate and is responsible, in particular, for crafting the Vouvray Pierres Rousses. The very fine, soft tannins resulting from long macerations are evident even in the delicious, easy-drinking Trinch and Avis de Vin Fort cuvées—which contain very little sulfur and are meant to be enjoyed young. The terroir-driven wines (Clos Sénéchal, Les Perrières, and Nuits d’Ivresse, made from vines in Grand-Mont and Busardières), which are more intense, have never displayed as much finesse and precision as in the most recent vintages, while retaining a slightly untamed character that gives them great depth. They also age very well.