Domaine Saint Cyr - Terroir de Lachassagne BLANC Beaujolais (12% ABV) 2021 750ml

Single vineyard Beaujolais Blanc from one of our favorite producers. The "Lachassagne" plot was planted in the 1950s in Anse and is only .5 hectares. Soil is clay/limestone with a calcareous marl bedrock underneath. 300m elevation. The plot is located between the winery and the La Galoche stream. While Chardonnay from this region could technically be labelled as Bourgogne Blanc (Burgundy), Raphael is committed to the Beaujolais Blanc appellation. Raphael is 4th generation winemaker. 

Exquisite balance of minerality, tree fruit, and subtle oak influence. Precise and supple - for fans of Albarino or Pouilly Fuisse. Bartlett pear, lemon peel, gala apple, ginger, lightly toasted almonds, bright acidity, salty gun flint minerality, clean crisp finish.

Raphael Saint-Cyr is the fourth generation vigneron at the Domaine Saint-Cyr, which was created by his great-grandfather, Pierre Saint-Cyr. The estate is located in Anse, found at the southern edge of the Beaujolais. When Raphael took over the winemaking in 2008, he let go of a large portion of Beaujolais vines around the winery and acquired vines further north in the crus of Morgon, Regnié, Chénas, and Moulin-à-Vent. Having seen his grandfather and uncle get sick from the chemicals used to treat their vines, Raphael was immediately convinced to convert the entire 23 hectare domaine to certified organic viticulture, making Domaine Saint Cyr one of the largest organic domaines in the Beaujolais.

The cuvée La Galoche is named after a small stream that runs by the property and represents the largest production from the domaine. More than anything, it represents the Beaujolais ideal of a delicious, joyful, and easy-to-drink Gamay wine. The oldest vines are vinified and aged separately as the cuvée Terroir de Bellevue, which shows the potential of the oft-maligned southern Beaujolais to produce wines that can stand up to the famous crus of the north, including Fleurie, Morgon, Chénas, and Moulin-à-Vent. The big difference here is soil type - the Pierres Dorées are limestone, while the crus are all planted on granite.

Beginning in 2017, Raphael began to experiment with cold carbonic fermentation and shorter aging for a cru Beaujolais with the single-vineyard Chénas Les Journets. Following the successful reception of this wine, all of the red wines today are vinified using cold carbonic fermentation since 2019. Always searching to improve his work in the vineyard and the quality of his wines, in 2020, Raphael began plowing his own vines with two Comtois drafthorses, Samba and El Suegno. Domaine Saint-Cyr represents the very best of the Beaujolais - joie de vivre and generosity above all, backed up by good people and solid work in the vineyards and cellar.

region: Beaujolais, France

varietal: Chardonnay

style: medium bodied white

farming/cellar: certified organic, practicing biodynamic, hand harvested, spontaneous fermentation in barrel and demi muids, matured for two years in barrel / demi muids on the lees with no racking, bottled unfined unfiltered with no added so2.

pairing: chicken pot pie, seared scallops