Highlights: Domaine des Chopins Beaujolais Villages 2022
Germaine Santallier is a young vigneron in Beaujolais who worked with Marie-Thérèze Chappaz in Switzerland and then Jean-Claude Lapalu in Beaujolais. But it was the death of his father that led to Germaine taking over the 7 hectare family domaine when he was just 19, with his first vintage in 2021. The vineyards are in the Marchampt valley, extending up to 600 m, and this wine comes from a 1 hectare plot of bushvines on blue volcanic soils at 450 m. Farming is organic but not certified and vinification is 100% whole bunch in concrete, with no added sulfites save for 10 ppm at bottling.
Domaine des Chopins Beaujolais Villages 2022 France
12.5% alcohol. This is so pure and fresh with layered strawberry and raspberry fruit with some silkiness to the palate, as well as a hint of lushness, allied to great definition. This is so lovely, showing purity but also detail, with subtle hints of pepper and cured meat, and a slight chalkiness to the texture. Natural but pure, it is the essence of Gamay: so impressive. 94/100 (UK retail £25, agent is Deja Bu wines).
