In the central Loire Valley Pierre and Catherine Breton produce a range of Cabernet Francs from Bourgueil and Chinon that represent everything that this shop was founded upon. These are the quintessential grower-producers that caught my mind of fire years ago. Organic and biodynamic viticulture, low sulphur, single vineyard expressions of place, and wines the beg to be opened with complete abandon. These are among the very most delicious and gratifying wines in all of the Loire.

The Bretons embody the spirit of the natural wine movement and its primary objective of sharing passion like no other estate. Of their entire range of wines one has spoken to me differently than the rest. The Clos Sénéchal is 100% Cabernet Franc from a 1.3 hectare parcel of clay over white tuffeau, the prized and finely-grained chalky limestone that is found in the Loire. 

Clos Sénéchal is always the most seamless and elegant of the Breton's six single vineyard Cabernet Francs. On tuffeau in Bourgueil Cabernet Franc is at its most suave and polished, but site-specificity is in full high definition. Fermentation takes place in large open top wooden vats, and élevage is in old foudre.

Tasting notes can often times pull us away from a wine rather than bringing us closer, but this may be the one single cuvée in the world whose characteristics are so vivid and consistent for me each vintage. Black cherries, fresh potting soil, iron, and lavender is the combo that jumps out of the glass every time. There is a sense of composure and effortlessness with Sénéchal that bridges a difficult gap that can sometimes exist between natural wines and the more classic, age-worthy bottlings.

2012 and 2014 were the best examples of Clos Sénéchal to date. 2012 offers a perfect harmony between the ripe and juicy qualities of Cabernet Franc, with a serious mineral spine. 2 years in bottle at cellar temperature have allowed these to evolve gorgeously, as now the tannins have softened even further since release.

2014 saw smaller yields, but concentration and ripeness is outstanding. A vintage that was wildly successful throughout the entire Loire, from Sancerre west through Muscadet. These have the structure and fruit to age for decades with proper cellaring.