This cuvée is sourced from a single parcel planted to vines over eighty years old in the deeply granite soils of Fleurie. In contrast to the other wines of the domaine, this special selection is aged 12 months in large, older foudres to best express its formidable character. Surprisingly, this structured wine is supremely elegant and fine; and, it is surely capable of providing pleasure over an extended period of time.
Located in the heart of the Fleurie cru, Domaine de la Chapelle des Bois comprises nine hectares of vines, primarily in Fleurie, but augmented by smaller holdings in Chiroubles and Morgon. In the vineyards, Chantal and Eric followed the principles of lutte raisonnée, treating only when absolutely necessary in order to rescue a crop, and their tried-and-true no-fuss cellar methods—spontaneous fermentation, traditional semi-carbonic maceration in cement vats, and aging in large 50-year-old wooden casks—produced Beaujolais of vivid fruit, terrific freshness, and structure enough to develop well in bottle.
