Chanrion Cote de Brouilly 2022

Strawberries, Strawberry Leaf, Black Raspberry, Dried Violet Petal

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"As a producer of quality Beaujolais since the 1970s (at a time when small-scale winemaking was very much a “boys’ club”), Nicole Chanrion is no stranger to biodynamic and natural methods herself. Located in the prestigious Côte de Brouilly, home to volcanic soils which lend an uncommon minerality and body to the Gamay grape, her 6-hectare domaine is a one-woman show: Nicole does everything herself, including tractor driving, soil plowing, vine pruning, and all cellar work. A staunch proponent of the old ways, Nicole eschews chemical usage in the vineyard or the cellar, in favor of the above mentioned hands-on approach. The wines speak for themselves, and are one of the best values in traditional Beaujolais. In fact, so great was her reputation for quality that in 2000 she was elected president of the Côte de Brouilly appellation! Small wonder that her co-workers call her La Patronne (“The Boss.”)

All fruit for this cuvée comes from 50-year-old Gamay vines located on the east-facing slopes of Mt. Brouilly. As mentioned above, Nicole does everything by hand, and gets up extra-early in the morning during harvest. In the winery, the grapes undergo carbonic maceration using native yeasts before finishing fermentation in neutral oak. Once dry, this wine is racked into ancient oak foudre, where it undergoes full malolactic conversion and ages for 9 months. This wine is not filtered before bottling and uses minimal SO2." - J.P.