Jean-Claude Chanudet - Marie Lapierre, Beaujolais
Originally classified as Beaujolais-Villages, "La Cuvée du Chat" drinks more like a Morgon. It comes from the granitic soils of a tiny 2.5 hectare parcel bought by Jean-Claude Chanudet and Marie Lapierre from a friend in 2010.
The parcel was planted in 1945, and once belonged to Jules Chauvet. The beautiful Gamay grapes from these 70 year old vines are handpicked in October, after which Carbonic maceration with natural yeasts occurs in an enamel tank with some pumping over to stimulate activity. The wine is then moved to foudres to rest on lees before finally being bottled with minimal SO2.
After all of that effort we end up with a super supple and velvety wine on the palate with juicy fresh red berry, cherry and blackberry dancing on the tongue. Top-notch Beaujolais at it's most gluggable.