Gamay has spent years trying to convince people it's more than just the life and soul of the party. The Château des Vergers 'Aux Saules' 2022 is Exhibit A for the defence. While many Gamays are all about youthful exuberance, this is a wine with both charm and substance—a Beaujolais that has graduated from dancing on tables to hosting the dinner.

Now running her family’s 7-hectare estate near Morgon’s famed “Côte du Py,” Cosima Bassouls is at the forefront of Beaujolais’ new generation. The nose is wonderfully expressive, bursting with wild cherries, crushed raspberries and juicy redcurrants, but there's something deeper lurking beneath the fruit. Notes of violets, graphite, forest floor and a gentle peppery spice add layers of intrigue, while a distinctly stony minerality reminds you that these vines are rooted in the granitic soils of Lantignié. The palate is beautifully poised. Bright and energetic, yet with a surprising depth and seriousness, it combines Gamay's trademark freshness with the texture and persistence more commonly associated with Pinot Noir. Silky tannins glide across the tongue, carrying flavours of red berries, sour cherry and spice through to a long, savoury finish. This is Gamay wearing a tailored jacket rather than a Hawaiian shirt: still charming, still approachable, but with a quiet confidence that makes you sit up and pay attention. Organic (certified). 12.5% alc. Drink now - 2030.

Press Reviews:

Tamlyn Currin for JancisRobinson.com: “Nippy, perfumed red fruit that makes me think of hibiscus tea, sour plums (Chinese li hing mui) and hawthorn berries. Energetic tannins that scramble nimbly up and down the fruit as if it was a super-fun climbing wall, there to play with. Pellucid purity at its core. And then a delicious peppery cloud of five-spice on the finish, like a vinous fist pump. Bassouls really is a winemaker to watch. (TC)” 17 points

James Suckling: “This is a wild and delicious red with fragrant notes of strawberries, red plums, cola, chocolate, oranges and flowers. It’s medium-bodied, silky and supple, with a seamless and fresh finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink now or hold.” 92 points