Domaine Chapel Fleurie Charbonnieres 2020
Domaine Chapel Fleurie Charbonnieres 2020
£30.38

Domaine Chapel

Domaine Chapel Fleurie Charbonnieres 2020

Country: France
Region: Beaujolais
Grape: Gamay
Colour: Red
Bottle Size: 75cl
Alcohol: 13.5%
Vintage: 2020

Michele Smith and David Chapel met in Beaujolais, whilst Michele was on holiday and David was working at Lapierre. After some time in New York, where, most recently, Michele was the Wine Director for Brooklyn Fare they moved back to Beaujolais to become vignerons. Their first vintage, 2016 Julienas Côte de Bessay, was vinified at Lapierre whilst they were still searching for their own cellars. In 2017 with their new family home and cellars in Régnié-Durette they started on the new vintage, introducing a Beaujolais Villages from fruit in nearby Lantignié from organically farmed vineyards. 

We introduced Domaine Chapel to our portfolio with the Julienas, which saw its final vintage being produced in 2018. The wine quickly gained cult status and whilst we are sad to see it go, we are so excited to represent the Fleurie, Chiroubles, Moulin-a Vent, and Aligoté. Michele and David have spent thousands of hours over the last year working the land on these sites and the resulting wines are quite remarkable. 

David and Michele started farming three plots in two different crus of Beaujolais: Chiroubles (Saint-Roch and Poullet) and Fleurie (Charbonnières) in January 2018. Sitting at 400m and 460m respectively the subsequent work they’ve done has been organic and by hand with only a cable plough and garden hoe. 

Sitting in an amphitheatre looking down on the back of La Madone, Fleurie Charbonnières is 1.2 hectares of vines amongst the acacia forest. The land has been farmed organically for over 20 years, the youngest vines are 35 years old and the oldest are over 60. The soil is a mix of granitic sand, weathered rock fragments and igneous rock. Fruit trees have been planted between the vines to foster biodiversity and promote soil health. 

All winemaking is very low extraction, with carbonic maceration, no pigeage, and no punching down: just keeping the cap wet. The style here is really elegant, and as Chapel gains more experience and makes more wine, this will be a Domaine to watch.

PRODUCER NOTES

Michele Smith and David Chapel met in Beaujolais, whilst Michele was on holiday and David was working at Lapierre. After some time in New York, where, most recently, Michele was the Wine Director for Brooklyn Fare they moved back to Beaujolais to become vignerons. Their first vintage, 2016 Julienas Côte de Bessay, was vinified at Lapierre whilst they were still searching for their own cellars. In 2017 with their new family home and cellars in Régnié-Durette they started on the new vintage, introducing a Beaujolais Villages from fruit in nearby Lantignié from organically farmed vineyards. 

We introduced Domaine Chapel to our portfolio with the Julienas, which saw its final vintage being produced in 2018. The wine quickly gained cult status and whilst we are sad to see it go, we are so excited to represent the Fleurie, Chiroubles, Moulin-a Vent, and Aligoté. Michele and David have spent thousands of hours over the last year working the land on these sites and the resulting wines are quite remarkable. 

David and Michele started farming three plots in two different crus of Beaujolais: Chiroubles (Saint-Roch and Poullet) and Fleurie (Charbonnières) in January 2018. Sitting at 400m and 460m respectively the subsequent work they’ve done has been organic and by hand with only a cable plough and garden hoe. 

FARMING & WINEMAKING NOTES

Sitting in an amphitheatre looking down on the back of La Madone, Fleurie Charbonnières is 1.2 hectares of vines amongst the acacia forest. The land has been farmed organically for over 20 years, the youngest vines are 35 years old and the oldest are over 60. The soil is a mix of granitic sand, weathered rock fragments and igneous rock. Fruit trees have been planted between the vines to foster biodiversity and promote soil health. 

All winemaking is very low extraction, with carbonic maceration, no pigeage, and no punching down: just keeping the cap wet. The style here is really elegant, and as Chapel gains more experience and makes more wine, this will be a Domaine to watch.