Domaine Saint Cyr - Chenas Robert 2022 750ml (12.5% abv)
cru Beauj for the natty fans - a touch funky, enjoy chilled, very pale color, almost a rosato or a Gamay Saignee method, olive brine, high acid, decant for 45 minutes, super cool expression but def. not a classic one
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.
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.
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Blend of 3 “classé cru” parcels in Chénas AOP
40 yr old vines
Alluvial, granite, sand, and slate
Organic farming. Hand harvest. Cold carbonic maceration for 18 days; alcoholic fermentation with native yeast beginning on day 15; natural malolactic fermentation. 50% is aged in old oak barrels for 10 months. Minimal sulfites added at bottling, unfiltered. 6500 bottles.
a classic Cru Beaujolais from one of our favorite producers in the region. light, chillable but still a serious wine, redcurrant, black raspberry, potting soil, violets, blueberry, hints of pepper and smoke, lipsmacking
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