2021 Chiroubles, Domaine de Vernus, Beaujolais

Domaine de Vernus

The Domaine de Vernus is a new estate created in 2019, and owned by Frédéric Jametton, an ex-insurance broker. The estate is in the heart of the vineyards of the Régnié-Durette municipality. The property is steeped in history and is located on the heights near the Cadole and Vergers plots. It has a panoramic view of Mont Brouilly and the hilly Beaujolais countryside.

Domaine de Vernus is run by famous consultant winemaker, Guillaume Rouget, son of Emmanuel Rouget. Producing red, mostly Crus, from their 12 hectares of vines and a sustainable approach to viticulture.

The philosophy of Domaine de Vernus is right out of the Burgundian playbook: Seek out small plots of old goblet vines within the finest Crus, eschew chemicals, restore soil health, and harvest at lower yields. In the winery, they destem depending on the character of the vintage, ferment in stainless steel, and then mature the wines in Burgundian oak barrels.

Chiroubles

Chriroubles is a small, hilly appellation to the west of Fleurie  and is Beaujolais at its most attractive, both in terms of the fruity, fragrant wines and the picturesque village from which it takes its name. It is the loftiest, geographically-speaking anyway, of the Crus, with the vineyards high up above the Beaujolais plain. It is probably the lightest and most refreshing too, with silky fruit and great charm.

Chiroubles is best drunk young, in the first 2-3 years of its life although the very finest examples can age well. One of the least known of the 10 Crus, this really is archetypal Beaujolais in the best sense of the word.

Gamay

A French variety planted predominately in Beaujolais where it is the grape behind everything from light and often acidic Beaujolais Nouveau through to the more serious and well-structured wines from the 10 cru villages. It takes its name from a hamlet just outside Chassagne-Montrachet and was at one stage widely planted on the Côte d`Or. However it was gradually phased out due to its poor yield and supposed poor quality of its wines.

The majority of Gamay wines in Beaujolais are labelled as Beaujolais or Beaujolais-Villages and are deliciously juicy, easy drinking, gulpable wines. Of more interest are the Cru wines from the 10 villages in the north of the region where the soil is predominantly granitic schist and where the vines are planted on gently undulating slopes. These can be well-structured, intensely perfumed wines, redolent of ripe black fruits and, while delicious young, will reward medium term cellaring.

Gamay is also grown in the Touraine region of the Loire where it produces soft, well-balanced, gluggable wines for drinking young.