Domaine Chapel "Charbonnières" Fleurie, Beaujolais, France 2025

FROM GRAND CRU SELECTIONS:

THE WINE: In Fleurie, the Chapels farm the lieu-dit, Charbonnières, which sits at 460 meters in altitude and faces directly east towards the Alps. The parcel is planted to high density, free-standing, gobelet vines. Charbonnières is nestled in the forest and the aspect is formed as an amphitheater high up in the mountains of Beaujolais. The land has been farmed organically for nearly 20 years and is by far the most labor intensive of the parcels that the Chapels farm. The vine age varies — the oldest vines are over 70 years old while the youngest were replanted 30 plus years ago. Granite rock forms the bedrock, and the soil is a mix of granitic sand, various weathered rock fragments, and igneous rock. The vines are completely enclosed by the forest, which gives protection from the strong winds. Meanwhile, the flora and fauna in the vines give the Domaine Chapel Fleurie its unique character.

THE PRODUCER: Domaine Chapel is a Beaujolais estate founded by David Chapel and Michele Smith-Chapel in the cru village of Régnié. The Chapels produced their first wine - a 2016 Juliénas “Côte de Bessay” - in partnership with Mathieu and Camille Lapierre, winemakers and owners of acclaimed Morgon estate Domaine Lapierre.

It was back in Beaujolais, while working at Domaine Lapierre in 2013 where David met his future wife, Michele Smith, a wine director based in Brooklyn, NY. In 2015, the Chapels relocated from New York to the Beaujolais to found Domaine Chapel. Starting in 2018, in addition to Juliénas and Beaujolais-Villages, Domaine Chapel will produce two cuvées from their own 3 hectares of vineyards in the crus of Fleurie and neighboring Chiroubles.