In the glass

Medium-bodiedFirm tanninHigh acidityDryLong finish

Aroma: black cherry, fresh tobacco, graphite, wild herb

Palate: dark berry, fine tannin, iron mineral, savoury length

Single-vineyard biodynamic Bourgueil from a 4-hectare clay-and-gravel parcel. Darker, more structured than Trinch, with iron-mineral spine and a savoury, tobacco-laced length.

What it pairs with

  • Slow-cooked pork shoulder
    Long-cooked pork meets the wine's fine tannin and iron-mineral register.
  • Beef cheek braised in Bourgueil
    Local braised-beef tradition: the wine's iron and tobacco echo the reduction.
  • Aged Comte 24 months
    Hard nutty cheese sharpens the wine's saline mineral length.
  • Mushroom and lentil ragout
    Earthy fungi and lentils mirror the wine's mineral and forest-floor depth.

History

Clos Senechal is a 4-hectare walled vineyard at Restigne. The Bretons bottle it as a single-vineyard cuvee under biodynamic farming, with minimal sulfite addition.

  1. 1990 — First vintage of Clos Senechal as single-vineyard cuvee

Facts

Producer
Domaine Catherine et Pierre Breton
Grapes
Cabernet Franc (100%)
Classification
Bourgueil AOC
Oak
12 to 14 months in old oak barrels, no new oak, minimal sulfites
ABV
13.0%
Price
EUR 24 to 36 at retail
Drinking window
5 to 18 from vintage
First vintage
1990
Biodynamic
Biodynamic Practicing
Organic
ORGANIC CERTIFIED
Vegan
Yes (no animal-derived fining)

Scores

  • Wine Advocate 92 (2018 vintage, reviewed 2020)

Frequently asked about Clos Senechal

What does Clos Senechal taste like?

Black cherry, fresh tobacco, graphite and wild herb on the nose; dark berry, fine tannin, iron mineral and a savoury length on the palate. Medium-bodied with firm tannins and high acidity, long finish.

When should I drink Clos Senechal?

Drink between 5 and 18 years from vintage. Decant 45 to 60 minutes for young vintages.

What food pairs with Clos Senechal?

Slow-cooked pork shoulder, beef cheek braised in Bourgueil, aged Comte 24 months, and mushroom and lentil ragout are all canonical matches.

Where is Clos Senechal made?

From a 4-hectare walled biodynamic vineyard at Restigne in the Bourgueil AOC, farmed by the Breton family.

Tags

← Back to wines in Loire Valley