Catherine & Pierre Breton - Clos Senechal Bourgueil 2019 (750ml)
Price: $44.99
| Producer | Catherine & Pierre Breton |
| Country | France |
| Region | Loire |
| Varietal | Cabernet Franc |
| Vintage | 2019 |
| Sku | 1-103817 |
| Size | 750ml |
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Catherine & Pierre Breton Clos Senechal Bourgueil 2019 stands as a premier, single-vineyard expression from two of the Loire Valley's most revered natural wine pioneers. Representing their top tier of "Wines of Terroir," this bottling is crafted for complexity, nuance, and graceful aging, showcasing the distinct character of a unique Bourgueil site farmed with organic and biodynamic principles.
The wine originates entirely from the Clos Senechal vineyard, situated on a prime hillside slope benefiting from southern exposure. Here, mature Cabernet Franc vines, 30-45 years old, draw character from the clay-limestone soils layered over the region's famed Tuffeau chalk. Grapes are meticulously hand-harvested and sorted before entering the cellar.
Employing minimal intervention, the Bretons destem the grapes, allowing them to ferment spontaneously with native yeasts in open-top wooden vats during a three-week maceration. The wine then ages patiently for 12-18 months in large wooden tanks (foudres), slowly integrating and developing complexity. It is bottled unfined and unfiltered, with minimal sulfur, preserving the authentic voice of the vineyard.
The 2019 Clos Senechal promises elegance and precision, reflecting its exceptional terroir. While structured for longevity, anticipate the emergence of silky tannins and fruit character described as being "as precise and fine as lace" with time in bottle or careful decanting. This is a profound, age-worthy Cabernet Franc embodying the artistry and integrity of Catherine and Pierre Breton.
