Domaine de la Chapelle des Bois Chiroubles 2024

A vivid, granite-driven red, the Domaine de la Chapelle des Bois Chiroubles 2024 (Beaujolais, France) is 100% Gamay from one of Cru Beaujolais's most electrifying and food-friendly appellations, made by a domaine widely regarded as the finest Chiroubles producer around.

Based in the heart of the Fleurie cru, Domaine de la Chapelle des Bois farms nine hectares of vines, primarily in Fleurie but extending into smaller holdings in Chiroubles and Morgon. The estate was built into one of Beaujolais's most respected addresses by Chantal and Eric Coudert-Appert, working the land in the tradition of lutte raisonnée, treating vines only when truly necessary, alongside spontaneous fermentation and aging in large old wooden casks. Since a 2017 change in ownership to Frédéric Montangeron, that same low-intervention philosophy has carried on unchanged: no added yeasts, fermentation in concrete vats, and aging in large, old oak that stays out of the way of Gamay's natural vibrancy. The Chiroubles parcel itself sits on granite-rich soil with vines averaging fifty years old, and undergoes a traditional ten- to twelve-day cuvaison.

The 2024 shows a bright ruby color and an expressive nose of red cherry cordial, lavender, and lilac, layered with orange peel over a base of dusty granite and underbrush. The palate is pure and lively, bursting with cherry fruit, sage, and tarragon, carried by zesty acidity and fine, delicate tannins that give the wine a buoyant, energetic feel. It's medium-bodied, precocious, and immediately welcoming, while still carrying enough structure to reward a few years in the cellar.

This is Cru Beaujolais at its most joyful — vibrant, terroir-driven, and irresistibly easy to love from the moment it's poured.