Breton 'Un chien dans un jeu de quilles' Pineau d'Aunis 2024

Catherine and Pierre Breton have tended for over three decades eleven hectares of vines in Restigné, just east of Bourgueil. They first introduced biodynamic practices into their viticulture in 1994, just after receiving their organic certification in 1991, and have always made wines of place, focusing especially in the appellations of Chinon, Bourgueil, and Vouvray.

Now, the next generation (their children, France and Paul, along with France’s husband, Baptiste) are slowly taking over and this wine is the signature of France Breton.

It comes from 30-year-old vines of Pineau d'Aunis planted on gravel, farmed organically and biodynamically, as always. For the winemaking they decided to go for a light maceration with whole-bunches, and was fermented with wild yeasts. The wine aged in a wooden vat for the winter before being bottled in spring.

This wine is light in colour but so expressive, so wild. It smells like morning peonies, rosehip, and green peppercorns. Like a basket of redcurrant, raspberry, and cherry plums too. It has a tiny, thrilling greenness.

Pour it slightly chilled.