Catherine and Pierre Breton have always had one foot in Vouvray. her family comes from the Chenin Blanc appellation, just an hour upriver from their home in Bourgueil country.
Their daughter France runs the show in Cabernet Franc land, and her brother Paul went all in on white wine. He built his own little cellar in Vouvray and started farming new vineyards to expand the family's blanc production. This is his baby.
Pierres Rousses comes from old vines on flinty soil. Paul ages it in used barrels, which gives it a completely different feel from the family's long-time sparkling "Dilettante" bottling. This one is deeper, more textured. Lemon drop. Thick, raw honey. White flowers. Serious, creamy palate that fills you up and makes you smile almost cry of happiness, with a dry, flinty finish. Old-school Vouvray, with no residual sugar.
We tasted the whole lineup with France last year, and this wine was the clear standout for me. I really, really love this Chenin.
