Deep ruby, brilliant color prepares you for the rich, juicy and (relatively) powerful wine that is to come. Smell and taste ripe, dark red cherries and blueberries, violets, white pepper and black tea. A whisper of rocky-earth gives notice on the 20 second finish, along with more fruit. Medium acidity and tannins. Structured and, while so tasty now, is built to last. “Nice bigness” my notes say. This is an outstanding wine from a excellent vintage for Beaujolais. And a very fair price to boot!
Domaine Les Gryphees own and farm hillside, 20-50 year old Gamay vines growing in granite, clay and chalk (Gryphées = chalk-rich seashell fossils, the result of the oceans that covered this land some 150 million years ago). Cement tank ferment and briefly aged. Bottled unfined/unfiltered. Also seek out their Beaujolais Blanc, a crisp, friendly Chardonnay from these same chalk-rich vineyards.