Chateau de Grand Pré "Côte de Brouilly" Beaujolais, France 2020

FROM PRIMAL WINE

THE WINE: Château de Grand Pré Beaujolais is a red natural wine made from 100% Gamay from vines averaging 80 years old and planted on sand and loess. The yields average 45 hl/ha. The grapes are hand-harvested. Maceration for 10 to 15 days in temperature-controlled tanks, followed by 10 months of aging on the fine lees in concrete tanks. Medium-bodied red wine, with small berries on the nose. Classic Beaujolais.

THE PRODUCER: Chateau Grand Pré is a family estate in the charming Beaujolais commune of Fleurie in the Beaujolais Crus winemaking area of the Auvergne Rhône Alpes region of France. Since 2009, we have chosen to formalize our choice of natural vine tending techniques and today use Ecocert certified organic methods.

On slopes that face the rising sun, grow our very expressive Gamay Noir a Jus Blanc vines that give the grapes for our wine and are so well-rooted in our terroir. Here the climate is semi-continental with both oceanic and Mediterranean influences.

Making organic wine means using techniques that respect the environment

From December to March the vines are pruned by hand. No herbicides are used.

We till round the vines throughout the year to limit weed growth.

This very precise task encourages the vine roots to delve really deep into the soil, right up to the granite itself, meaning that our wines are infused with the flavors of our terroir.

In September comes harvest time, the grapes are hand-picked and sorted into small containers or bins depending on the cuvée. Our yields are low, between 25 and 35 hl/ha depending on the vintage.