Château de la Chaize - Fleurie Lieu-dit La Chapelle des bois rouge 2020

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

Remarkable ageing for this ripe-fruited Fleurie, harmonious in its flavors and fruit, with a precise, energetic mouthfeel and digestible finish. A fine ensemble.

About the domain :

As announced in the previous issue, Château de la Chaize, previously owned by the Marquise de Roussy de Sales, has been acquired by Christophe Gruy and his Maïa group. With 250 hectares of vineyards, including 99 hectares of Brouilly, Château de la Chaize is one of the finest estates in the Beaujolais region, and the new owner's ambition is to convert it to organic production. At the same time, a number of renovation projects have been undertaken, particularly in the winery, whose outdated charm and organization had been a hindrance to the production of great wines. The first wines of the Maïa era are not yet born, but we would like to salute this colossal, visionary and courageous investment in a region that has every potential to shine. If the 2017s still lack substance and personality, the 2018s take a big step forward. Brûlhier is greedy and generous, and Combiliaty, with its granitic straightness, already displays a certain elegance.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the domain :

This Grand Siècle château, built in 1674 to plans by Jules Hardouin-Mansart, features gardens designed by André Le Nôtre. The vineyard is one of the largest in the Beaujolais region: it covers 300 hectares in a single block, 150 of which are in operation, with a parcel-by-parcel approach to wine-making. It was bought in 2017 by the Gruy family (Christophe and his nephew Boris, operations manager). Numerous projects are underway, including the transition to organic and biodynamic farming.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

Aromas of red berries and sweet spices, framed by a discreet patina due to its ageing in a newly acquired foudre, present Fleurie La Chapelle des Bois 2020, a medium to full-bodied, ample and vibrant wine, with a bright fruity core, supple tannins and a saline finish.

About the domain :

The ambitious restoration of Château de La Chaize and its vineyards - including a transition to organic farming - continues, and the results are beginning to show in the glass. With these new developments, this property has immediately earned itself a place in my shortlist of estates to visit on my next tasting trip to Beaujolais.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the wine:

In a withdrawn, austere style, this fleurie will need time. However, the fruit is of the highest quality, with hints of pine thorn and warm stone. The palate is long and nuanced, but with a strong mineral energy that will carry this cuvée a long way.

About the domain :

By buying this estate in 2017, Christophe Gruy decided to wake up a sleeping beauty. A historic Brouilly property previously farmed by sharecroppers, La Chaize benefits from an owner who has now taken the measure: major investments have been undertaken in viticulture (replanting program and transition to organic), technology (the winemaking facilities are the subject of a pharaonic worksite) and human resources (Pierre-Jean Villa on board, Christophe's nephew winemaker Boris Gruy appointed manager) to raise the château's 150 hectares to their highest level. To crown it all, the new owner is planning "zero waste" production. The range is based on a gourmet, spontaneous style for the "small" cuvées, and a serious, deep and controlled style for the parcellaires; its coherence enables the domaine to return to our guide. Beaujolais needs ambitious projects of this kind, and we'll be keeping a close eye on them over the coming vintages.

Wine Enthusiast

About the wine:

This wine, from a single vineyard, is well-balanced. It's full of juicy black fruit, with acidity and a solid backdrop. The taut texture indicates ageing potential. Drink from 2024.

James Suckling

About the wine:

Very well structured, restrained and elegant with a fresh, delicate personality for the warm vintage, this is a truly striking Fleurie. I love the interplay of tart cherry and fine tannins on a concentrated, elegant palate. It develops slowly in the glass as it airs. Very long, elegant finish.