Domaine Pierre-Marie Chermette : Saint-Amour "Les Champs-Grilles" 2017

A Beaujolais with Lush Red Fruit and Silky Tannins

Setting the benchmark in the Beaujolais region for 5 generations is the Chermette family, who have also been instrumental in the implementation of the Beaujolais crus and climats. The Domaine Pierre-Marie Chermette estate is today run by Pierre Chermette, who has maintained a traditional, classic approach to winemaking. The St. Amour "Les Champs Grilles" 2017 from Domaine Pierre-Marie Chermette is produced from 100% Gamay grapes grown on the 3 hectare Champs Grilles climat. Here, vines of 50 years old or older grow in soils of decomposed granite. They are cultivated using sustainable farming and mostly organic practices, which are considered to be well suited to the low yielding old vines of the estate. The fermentation takes place naturally in whole clusters and is semi-carbonic, in old foudres constructed by Pierre's great-grandfather at the beginning of the 19th century. The wines is lightly filtered and a low quantity of sulfur is added before bottling.

The St. Amour "Les Champs Grilles" 2017 from Domaine Pierre-Marie Chermette displays a bright ruby color with purple reflections in the glass. On the nose, a variety of fresh red fruits reveal themselves, along with floral fragrances, notably violet. On the palate, this Beaujolais is straigthforward, with a core of juicy fruit (cherry, raspberry, strawberry, blackberry). The wine's signature schist-granite terroir contributes a certain structure and silky, elegant tannins.