“La Dilettante” Rouge

“La Dilettante” Rouge is a young, fresh Bourgeil made with Cabernet Franc grapes. Red fruit aromas in the nose are followed by a delicately floral/spicy finish. Juicy and fruity on the palate, silky smooth tannins are complimented by a lively acidity. It has been made with three weeks of carbonic maceration before being aged in oak with malolactic fermentation taking place. La Dilettante is a fresh, lively, fruit-driven Loire Valley red.

Catherine & Pierre Breton are based in the Loire Valley. They converted their vineyards to organic and biodynamic farming in 1990. They grow their grapes across distinct Touraine sites, their reds are grown in Bourgeil, while their whites are grown in Vouvray, and the pair also have sites in Chinon.

A husband-and-wife operation in the Loire Valley, the Bretons have built their reputation on making pure Cabernet Francs from Bourgueil and Chinon using biodynamic viticulture and vinification, being certified organic by Ecocert and holding biodynamic certification from Demeter.

The Breton philosophy stems, in their own words, from a love of the land. The vineyards see ultra-intense organic care, which is no mean feat in this northerly clime. They avoid chemical fertilisers and weed killers, restrict yields to around 40-45 hl/ha and harvest by hand. All wines are made using spontaneous fermentation from indigenous yeasts. The Breton’s desire for “natural” winemaking comes through strong in their resistance to the use of sulphites, with typically just 10 mg/l added at bottling to many cuvées, although some are bottled without any sulphites at all.