Catherine & Pierre Breton, 2018 Bourgueil "Trinch! Epaulé Jeté"
Cab Franc du Jour #14
Catherine and Pierre Breton are easily two of my favourite vignerons in all of the Loire Valley, growing Cabernet Franc not only in Bourgueil but also in Chinon. Today we are looking at their Trinch from Bourgueil, a name that loosely translates from an old French dialect as “cheers,” and that really does speak to the spirit of this wine. It is fruit-forward, easy-going, and eminently crushable.
The wine comes from a parcel of around five hectares on predominantly gravelly soils, with vines on the younger side at around 20 years of age, vinified in stainless steel. The combination of gravelly soils, younger vines, and stainless steel fermentation all contribute to making this a soft, supple, juicy, and fresh style of Cabernet Franc.
On the nose it is super juicy and very fresh, with dark crunchy berries, a touch of earthiness, and a lovely lifted, perfumed quality that leans toward the fruitier side. The acidity is deliciously juicy, and on the palate the earthiness comes forward a little more, with those dark berries in the background and really soft, supple tannins. This is a wonderfully versatile wine at the table, equally at home with poultry, red meats, or vegetables.
It is one of the reasons I love Cabernet Franc so much. There is a companionability to this grape, a friendly, accessible character that meets you where you are, regardless of the day or your level of wine expertise. It is just one of those wines that makes people happy.
I also want to take a moment to thank everyone for the support, comments, and enthusiasm for this project so far. I truly appreciate you all being along for the ride, and I wish everyone a very happy holiday season!
Wine Details
Producer: Catherine & Pierre Breton
Appellation: Bourgueil
Communes: Restigné
Lieux-Dits: Various
Soils: Sandy-gravelly ancient alluvium
Alcohol: 12.5%