Brouilly 'Pierreux' Domaine Les Roches Bleues 2021

The Brouilly "Pierreux" from Domaine Les Roches Bleues is an intense, rich, pleasantly fruity red. It is a label born of painstaking work to enhance the estate's terroir, which has led to the isolation of a few parcels of particular merit to highlight their qualities. This artisanal approach to the vineyard gives voice to the best of the Beaujolais, one of the French regions that in recent years has embarked on a qualitative renaissance of its wines, moving away from the dominant image linked only to the commercial phenomenon of Beaujolais Nouveau.

The Brouilly 'Pierreux' expresses an interesting reality in the Beaujolais. Domaine Les Roches Bleues cultivates a 9-hectare estate that is managed according to organic farming principles, with grassed inter-rows to encourage biodiversity and the natural vitality of the soils. The vineyards occupy splendid sunny exposures at the foot of the Mont Broully hills, whose profile dominates the region. The Gamay grapes come exclusively from old vines over 50 years old, cultivated in a parcel located in the lieu dit Pierreux. The vines are rooted in poor, stony soils, the famous Roches Bleues, mainly composed of diorites of ancient volcanic origin. After manual harvesting, the best grapes are sent whole to a semi-carbonic vinification process lasting around two weeks, with spontaneous fermentation using only indigenous yeasts, at a temperature of around 20 °C. The wine matures for 12-18 months in oak barrels and is then bottled only with light filtration and a minimal dose of sulphites.

The Brouilly 'Pierreux' red wine from Domaine Les Roches Bleues is a Gamay with good structure and aromatic concentration, which can be enjoyed when young, but also has good ageing potential. It goes very well with spit-roasted poultry, roasts and barbecued mixed meats. It has a dark ruby colour with light garnet-coloured highlights. Fruity aromas of small dark berries, wild blackberries, blackcurrants, blueberries, ripe cherries, notes of soft spices and hints of officinal and balsamic herbs characterise the olfactory picture. On the palate, it is large, with rich fruit, enveloped by a subtle and evolved tannic texture. The finish is long, harmonious and persistent.