WineDr: Day 1-Loire-Catherine and Pierre Breton

Catherine & Pierre's house was in Bourgeil which is also 100% Cabernet Franc country. While Chinon is meant to age, Bourgeil is meant to be drunk young. The Breton's are steadfast in their belief's about organic farming and organic viticulture. They use very little SO2 and have some of the strictest standards in the region. They just allowed Kermit to begin selling to the rest of the United States. Some Chenin Blanc is allowed in this region as well. These guys were incredibly passionate about their wine and very gracious.

Tasting order:

2009 La Dilettante Sec-100% Sparkling Chenin Blanc-between 6 to 8 grams of residual sugar-sweet summer peas, apples and quince.
2009 La Dilettante Bourgeil-100% Cabernet Franc-really, really light, fruity Cabernet Franc
2009 Franc de Pied-this is a small plot of pre-Phylloxera vines that the Bretons have kept to see what ungrafted root stock tastes like..yields are incredibly small..luckily for me, I get to taste it as well. Rocky clay and limestone soil.
2009 Trinch Bourgeil-this was my favorite of the tasting
2009 Beaumont Chinon-chalk, clay soil
2008 Franc de Pied Bourgeil-earthy, cedary, spicy
2008 Les Galichets Bourgeil-cherry-cola, popcorn, raw meat
2008 Beaumont Chinon-smoky, cedary, lots of finesse, very elegant
2008 Clos Senechal Bourgeil
2008 Nuits d' Ivresses Bourgeil-means 'drunken nights'...we had a bottle of this at dinner the other night
2007 Saint Louans Chinon-chalk and thin clay soil
2007 Les Perrieres Bourgeil-spends 2 years in barrel...incredible nose

After this immense tasting, we went into the house for bread, goat cheese and cured meats and had a 2002 Les Perrieres Bourgeil