SAINT AMOUR 2024
Grape varietal
Black Gamay (Gamay Noir) with white juice.
Tasting notes
Colour: Deep garnet-ruby.
Nose: Rich floral aromas (peony, mignonette) and fruit notes (raspberry and vineyard peach), enhanced by subtle hints of kirsch.
Palate: Soft, harmonious and highly expressive, with excellent drinkability.
Serving suggestions
Best enjoyed slightly chilled, at around 15°C. (59°F.), to reveal its seductive aromas.
Food and wine pairing
An ideal companion to creamy chicken with mushrooms or an elegant cheese board.
Ageing potential
A Cru that will age comfortably for up to five years in the cellar.
Origins
Located at the northernmost edge of the Beaujolais vineyard, Saint-Amour marks the final stop on the route of the Beaujolais Crus. According to legend, the village of Saint-Amour originated from the conversion to Catholicism of a Roman warrior who founded a monastery on the hilltop overlooking the Saône Valley. The touch of romance suggested by its name has made this wine particularly sought-after.
Terroir
The commune of Saint-Amour lies at the meeting point of granite soils, ideally suited to red wines, and limestone areas where Chardonnay thrives. The clay-siliceous soils and clay deposits surrounding stony, rocky elements are derived from granite bedrock and arkose (Triassic sandstone).
Vinification and maturing
Hand-harvested grapes. Gravity-fed vatting in concrete tanks. Whole-bunch maceration for around ten days, incorporating pump-overs and rack-and-return operations prior to pressing, to maximise structure and colour extraction. The wine is then matured on fine lees in tank.
Vintage : 2024
The winter of 2023-2024 was the 3rd warmest since 1900, with a particularly mild February. Spring was marked by heavy rainfall, with a notable lack of sunshine. Despite these conditions, temperatures remained above normal. Summer alternated between hot and cool spells, with hot spells in July. These climatic variations complicated plant health management in the vineyards, but winegrowers were able to keep the situation under control.
Yields for the 2024 harvest are expected to be low and very heterogeneous, with some plots suffering from coulure and millerandage. The first pruning began in early September. Harvesting was spread over three weeks, finishing at the end of September in the latest-ripening areas.
The reds have notes of raspberry, black cherry, pear and floral scents such as lily of the valley. Initial tastings reveal fruity, elegant, supple wines with a ruby colour. The range of aromas is broad, giving an impression of deliciousness on the palate, with a lovely freshness and pleasant complexity.
