Organic Beaujolais-Villages Blanc Chardonnay Domaine Famille Gauthier 2024

Region

The vineyards of Beaujolais fall on the granite rich slopes of a hilly region between Mâcon and Lyon at the southern limit of Burgundy. The only vine variety authorised for red wines is Gamay, traditionally grown as free standing bush vines. A small amount of Chardonnay is also grown. The most favourable vineyard sites produce `villages` wines, and the 10 named `Cru` villages of Beaujolais represent the best vineyards of the region and produce the longest-lived and fullest style of Beaujolais.

Producer

The Gauthier family have been making wine in Morgon since 1834 and have passed down for generations into Laurent Gauthiers hands, who now runs their small artisan estate with his sons Jason and Elie. They hold 11ha in total, mostly in the Grands Crase on the south of Morgon on 9ha vineyard on Schist, with a small plot in Cote du Py of 2ha on the famous blue granite soils. They have committed their land for sustainable farming to preserve the soil for future generations of winemakers, limiting use of all chemicals to encourage biodiversity in the vines and they are certified organic. Laurent and his sons work with a very minimal intervention approach, both in the vineyards and in the winery, producing authentic and quality natural wines.

Tasting Notes

This Beaujolais Villages Blanc is produced on fairly deep loamy-stony soil which gives the wine freshness. 100% harvested by hand, with a few hours of maceration. The free run juice is ferment in cold stainless-steel vats and the press juice in 300- litre barrels. After malo, there is aging on fine lees without SO2 with weekly stirring for 3 months. These are blended and a small amount of SO2 is added at the bottling. A delicate Chardonnay with fresh acidity and texture, full of zesty ripe lemons and apples with a hint of toast.

Food

Served best with seafood, fish, white meats and goats cheeses.