2020 Château des Bachelards, ‘Comtesse de Vazeilles’ Fleurie, Beaujolais, France

 Producer: The estate was founded in the 11th century by Benedictine Monks of the Cluny Abbey, calling it Les Bachelards ‘place of god’ in the Oil language. The Abbey was destroyed during the French revolution but the farm remained. Alexandra de Vazeilles, studied in the States where she obtained a degree in viticulture & oenology, then trained in Burgundy & Bordeaux before acquiring the Chateau in 2007 & converting the vineyards to biodynamic by 2015.  Her wines are not typical Beaujolais, made without carbonic maceration, but with long maturation periods & are quite ageworthy.

Place: The estate holdings are made up of 12 hectares of old vines, 6 of which are in the Cru Fleurie, rest in Crus Moulin-à-Vent & Saint-Amour, in the Beaujolais wine region of France.

Cultivation: Certified Biodynamic by Demeter.

Varietal: Gamay

Soil: Pink granite, rock & clay

Winemaking: Hand harvest, indigenous yeast fermentation, 24 day maceration in concrete, 20 months maturation in wooden vat, bottled unfiltered.

Tasting Notes: Elegant Structure – Concentrated Flavors – Spicy Minerals – Long Finish