The AOC is especially uniform. The whole commune is located right in the middle of the granitic axis in northern Beaujolais. It is extremely rare for an appellation to be so uniform in terms of rock substratum and soil depth.
100% granitic cru. The 350-million-year-old granite has gradually weathered into friable saprolite, locally called ‘gore’. This is where the soils are the thinnest and sandiest.
HISTORY :
Chiroubles has the distinction of being the highest Cru , rising to a height of 450 metres. From the high balcony formed by its vineyards, you can look down on the vast plain of the Saône. As for most of the Beaujolais Crus, the wine has taken on the name of its village. To the taste, it is the lightest of the Beaujolais wines, but strongly marked by red berry flavours.
VINIFICATION :
Manual harvest of Gamay Noir with white juice.
Vatting by gravity, in concrete tanks. Maceration in whole grapes for about ten days, including pumping over and delestage, before pressing, to extract the maximum structure and color. The wine is then aged on fine lees in vats.
WINE :
Colour: Bright red.
Nose: Red berry flavours.
Palate: Balanced wine, the palate enjoys velvety, harmonious sensations combined to an aromatic finish.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS :
Chiroubles is best appreciated when young, but it may be laid down for 3 to 5 years. It is the perfect accompaniment to delicatessen, smoked ham, roast poultry. Serve at between 15 to 16°C.
VINTAGE :
The 2022 vintage was marked by extreme weather phenomena (sunshine, heat, drought, rain and very localised storms), but also by a very early harvest. These phenomena mean that the harvest is smaller in terms of quantity, but the quality is worthy of the great vintages of the past.