Pierre-Marie Chermette 2022 Beaujolais Origine Vieilles Vignes (6 Bottles) France

by Fine Wine Cellars

$241.00 GST Included

AUSTRALIA WIDE SHIPPING INCLUDED

New release. In his seminal book Adventures on the Wine Route, Kermit Lynch bemoaned the trend for chaptalized, high-octane Beaujolais, yearning instead for the wines of yesteryear, with their depth, natural alcohol and acidity. Chermette’s emblematic (Vissoux) Cuvée Traditionnelle Vieilles Vignes (as it was called then) was first bottled in 1986 at the behest of Jean Brouilly, then Michelin-starred chef of Tarare. It instantly caused a sensation, launching the fame of the Chermette wines and igniting heated debate within the region. Uncapitalized and unfiltered (inadvertently or not), this wild-ferment, low sulphur, old-vine cuvée sailed over the oceans of bland, homogenised Beaujolais being produced at the time. It also raised the bar considerably for quality, non-cru Beaujolais and remains a benchmark today.

The fruit source is a densely-planted four hectares in Saint-Vérand with vines sited on a pocket of dark granite—a soil that partly accounts for the wine’s Cru-level depth and minerality. The vine age also helps, ranging from 35 to 85 years. These vines typically produce a considerably deeper, plumper, silkier wine than the entry-level Griottes. The 2020 is a killer version of Origine: a marriage of pure, silky raspberry and floral fruit with filigreed tannins and fine acidity. A beauty.

“The 2020 Beaujolais Origine Vieilles Vignes wafts from the glass with notes of cherries, sweet berries and plums framed by a pretty top note of peonies. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and fleshy, with succulent acids and a long, perfumed finish, it’s a terrific value. “ 91 points, William Kelley, The Wine Advocate

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About Pierre-Marie Chermette

Pierre-Marie Chermette’s old vine, wild ferment, unchapitalised and unfiltered Beaujolais has been over-delivering since the ‘80s. In those first decades his wines helped raise the bar considerably and left a lasting influence on the region. Next year Pierre-Marie Chermette will vinify his fortieth vintage, and to this day his star continues to shine among the brightest in Beaujolais.

It’s rare to see Pierre-Marie without a smile on his face and similarly, this affable grower’s 2020s are crammed with the same kind of sparkle and joie de vivre that greets visitors to Chermette’s Saint-Vérand domaine. In particular, the lucid, succulent and red-fruited new vintage of Origine Vieilles Vignes is amongst the most tempting releases of this storied cuvée that we have shipped. The Cru wines too, are enchanting, yet not without gravitas: succulent, unmediated fruit shares the stage with lip-smacking punch and mineral lustre, all the while eloquently respecting the personality of each terroir. You could say that 2020 has got it all. These are bottles that Burgundy lovers should load up on—they deliver the pleasure of many a village-level wine for a fraction of the price. Enjoy.

Killer Beaujolais from 2020: “… Among the finest values that can be found in French wine,” [William Kelley]
★ ★ Domaines 2 Etoiles [Great Reference Domaines] “The wines produced by Martine and Pierre-Marie Chermette (recently with their son Jean-Étienne) have virtually no equivalent. Their depth and definition place them above the rest.” La Revue du Vin de France

“Old vines, diligent but traditional vinification and élevage in foudre are the rudiments of the approach. To my palate, some of the cuvées reviewed here number among the finest values that can be found in French wine…” William Kelley, The Wine Advocate

Fine Wine Cellars

On the one hand, our role as a merchant of all things wine & spirits could not be simpler. We aim to source the most delicious, the most authentic, and the highest quality products possible from Australia and around the world in order to offer them to our clients. We live or die by how well we perform this task. Of course things are rarely as simple or as easy as they seem. Hunting for wines & spirits is no different. Apart from the months spent travelling, countless days and evenings spent tasting and the outrageous wine expenditure in the name of ‘research’, sourcing quality wine and spirits requires expertise and experience. Understanding the potential of a producer and their products is much more than just a slurp and a spit.

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