Domaine Guy Breton

Domaine Guy Breton

Who in the natural wine world hasn't heard of "P'tit Max"? Guy Breton belongs to the generation that changed the way we drink natural wine. A key figure in Beaujolais, a talent who has shown off the grape we love so much at epi-curieux: Gamay.

The story of Guy Breton

Guy Breton belongs to Marcel Lapierre's generation, nicknamed the "Gang of 4" by Kermit Lynch, the great American importer. Why the Gang of 4? Because it brought together the best friends of Beaujolais: Marcel Lapierre, Jean-Paul Thévenet and Jean Foillard (themselves inspired by the great Jules Chauvet). They were later followed by Jean-Claude Chanudet, known as Le Chat, Georges Descombes, Yvon Métras, Jean-Jacques Robert and others. Guy Breton's story began in 1986, when he took over the family estate. At the time, grapes were sold to the cooperatives that ruled Beaujolais, with many additives used in winemaking and Gamays that tasted artificial. That was before the great names of the region brought back this emblematic grape, with its fresh, juicy red fruit and wonderful ageing potential.

Natural wine from Beaujolais

Based in Villié-Morgon and encouraged by Marcel Lapierre, Guy Breton began farming some of the finest old vines of the Morgon appellation. Today he works 7 hectares in Morgon, Régnié, Beaujolais, Beaujolais-Villages, Côte de Brouilly, Fleurie and, more recently, Chiroubles from bought-in grapes. P'tit Max is also known among Gamay lovers as Mr Beaujolais Nouveau: his primeurs are so juicy and pure that everyone fights over the Fanchon cuvée. Respectful of the environment and of this heritage, he uses no pesticides or synthetic products in the vineyard. Facing northeast, on the Saint-Joseph and Grands Cras plots, his wines are fresh. He harvests later than most, for deeper wines. No tricks in the cellar: the winemaking is natural, with carbonic or semi-carbonic macerations started cold to bring out fruit and complexity. Their length varies with the year. The wine then goes through an old vertical press and is aged in epoxy tanks, or in barrels for the oldest vines. An incomparable style: Guy Breton's wines are unique.
The epi-curieux.com team has selected several of Guy Breton's wines for you: must-haves in the cellar for purists, and must-tries for newcomers. Discover the pure expression of Beaujolais Gamay.

The wines of Guy Breton

Guy Breton masterfully farms several appellations. First, of course, there is Marylou, a Beaujolais-Villages named after his eldest daughter: a real fruit bomb, a Gamay to open with friends! Then the primeur, the Fanchon cuvée: a wildly juicy Beaujolais Nouveau that purists snap up. Pure fruit juice, a festive wine that brings people together! Guy Breton also had to nod to his nickname: hence the P'tit Max cuvée in Morgon. The estate's flagship, from nearly century-old vines on an exceptional terroir, aged in wood: a Morgon of incredible depth with intense fruit. Be patient, as P'tit Max has outstanding ageing potential (it can stand tall next to Burgundy!). Guy Breton also farms vines in Fleurie: a little jewel of Gamay, riper and more expressive, balancing fruit and freshness with great finesse. A wine that only gets better with time… The estate's queen appellation? Morgon, and in particular the Morgon Vieilles Vignes: from century-old vines, velvety and simply delicious. Looking for Guy Breton's sweet treat? Head for the Régnié, an explosion of fruit and incredibly easy to drink, a fluid, balanced Gamay for any occasion. Then try a new terroir with the Chiroubles Cuvée Léa: from shallow sandy soils, it shows Gamay's complexity and minerality, always with plenty of fruit. Finally, the Côte de Brouilly, a perfect balance of terroir and vintage, crafted by the genius Guy Breton.
The epi-curieux.com team knows how lucky it is to offer you Guy Breton's Gamays! Keep them in your cellar if you can, as they age beautifully, and for the impatient: enjoy!