Château des Vergers Beaujolais Lantignié AOP Aux Saules 2021

Winemaker Cosima Bassouls is infusing young, innovative energy into the historical viticultural traditions of pastoral Beaujolais-Lantignié. In 2019 she began converting her family’s 6 hectares of vineyards to organic farming, utilizing agroforestry practices and 15 different cover crops to create a biodiverse polyculture that results in healthy soils and reduced erosion. This cuvée comes from Cosima’s northernmost single parcel, Aux Saules, which boasts 60 year old goblet trained gamay vines planted on decomposed pink granite soils. Hand harvested grapes see 12 days of whole-cluster, semi-carbonic maceration, followed by a very slow pressing using the château’s hundred-plus years old vertical press, all according to the cycle of the moon. Fermentation then continues with native yeasts in cement tanks, and the wine then spends an additional 8 months in concrete tanks before bottling without fining or filtration. No sulfur is used during vinification, with a small amount added at bottling. Sophisticated yet easy going, this opens with aromas of dark red strawberry, cherry, violet, leather, cigar tobacco, vanilla, and spice. On the palate it is silky and savory, with lively red fruit, mouthwateringly juicy acidity, and savory crushed herbs, black pepper, and mace on a finish supported by gentle tannins. Organically grown, low-intervention/natural wine, vegan.