One of the most beautiful wine region of France also makes some of the most beautiful wines, and we all agreed last Thursday in the city of Lyon.
For the first apparition in Lyon, The Vicky Beaujolais Tasting hosted some of my favourite wines and about 50 fans. All clustered in the jazz club cellar room, it was a happy success! The Hot Club team was also welcoming the Novox, an electro-jazz band matching well with the wines.
Vicky Wine’s Selection:
As always, the Château de Lavernette was a delight. The Boissieu Family has a vineyard in North beaujolais, in Leynnes, at the border of Maconnais. Xavier and his American wife Kerrie are the new generation of wine makers, very well decided to bring the highest quality to the already stunning wines of the château.
Xavier de Boissieu in his beautiful cellar
Château de Lavernette
Xavier de Boissieu opened the night with his Crémant de Bourgogne. Made with Chardonnay grape in Beaujolais, it has often been confused with a Champagne blanc de blanc at my blind sparkling tasting. It is gourmand, sophisticated, with a thin bubble that will stimulate your palate at any time of the day.
The Beaujolais Leynes is Lavernette ‘s jewel, a beaujolais-villages that is concentrate, deep and could stand next to a cru. Certainly bio, yet to be certified, it already has the stamp of quality.
- Les Mois du Vin Selection – Château du Carra, Domaine de Bacarra
Les Mois du Vin, my partner on French tastings, presented the domaine de Baccara. A great discovery that stood proudly for its first apparition with Vicky. Philippe Bonhomme, the producer, showed us around on our Beaujolais tour a few weeks before. The view from Saint Etienne La Varenne is heavenly; we are at the heart of Beaujolais! Philippe is also a fun character, photographer on his lost hours, he also plays in a rock band … his studio on the top of the cellar certainly does well to the wines!
Philippe Bonhomme and his favourite view
Gamay Grape trees
Le Blanc (white) had been acclaimed for its freshness and crispiness while the Beaujolais village Prestige was silky, fruity and light but yet spiced up by the 6 months spent in oak barrels.
And of course, How can I present a Beaujolais tasting without my favourites crus? Going back home to pick up the wine gave me a beautiful white view of the windmill (Moulin à vent in French), fresh arrived from Paris, I couldn’t expect better to relax.
- Vicky’s wine – Le château des Moriers
Fleurie and Moulin-à-vent are from my family vineyard –The Château des Moriers. Around here, we say that Fleurie is the most feminine of all beaujolais. Full of cherry fruits and earthy, it is elegant and complex. But as a Fleurie first fan, I must admit that Moulin-à-vent was the biggest crush this night. Fresh but concentrate, balanced with a good length, spicy and plumy, it was poured until the last drop!
Moulin à Vent view from Château des Moriers
Love our Beaujolais and come visit us!
Pour votre santé,
Miss Vicky Wine
Next time in Lyon: 13th of April 2010 @ Complexe du Rire
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[...] snow it’s a small paradise, between hills, old village and vines. I’ve already written a few words last year but can’t help starting again [...]
Je suis de tout coeur avec ton blog.