Château de Grandmont - BLACÉ Château de Grandmont is a 9 hectare property, situated in the commune of Blacé, about 15 minutes drive south of Château du Pavé. It is owned by Georges Michel (a wealthy businessman, based in la Réunion - a French dependency in the Pacific) and Jean Brac de la Perrière, the late Henri Brac de la Perrière's eldest son. Chris Piper has been the consultant wine-maker since 2001 and since 2002, there has been a severe investment in the vineyard. The delightful 58 year-old Claude Perrin is in charge of the estate and cellars. What he is brilliant at is viticulture and, since he has been given a free rein, he has transformed the vineyards and drastically reduced the yields. Grandmont is overtly eco-friendly (no pesticides, weed-killers or man-made fertilisers). The soil is manured and ploughed and has competitive "swiss grass" planted between the vines for hydric competition, ensuring deeper roots and reduced yields. A very tight pruning is carried out and, very unusually for Beaujolais, the vines are pruned on the double-guyot system, trained on wires, giving the grapes better areation and sun exposure.
Château de Raôusset & Remy Passot, CHIROUBLES This substantial 35 hectare estate is in the ownership of an unbelievably complex family trust (les Héritiers de Raôusset) which only the French could conjure up. However, behind this complicated structure lies a very talented and experienced wine-maker and régisseur, Remy Passot, whose family have been vignerons at Château de Raôusset for over a century.
Château du Pavé, ST. LAGER, BROUILLY The three hectare vineyard of ‘Pavé’, situated on the hillside just below the Mont de Brouilly, was originally established in 1631 by Antoine Brac. Today, this lovely estate is owned by Michel and Corinne Brac de la Perrière and their children. Chris Piper has been wine-maker here since 2001, having left Château des Tours after the 2000 vintage. The vines (with an average age of 40 years) are cultivated using eco-friendly methods, yields are kept impressively low and there is minimal intervention in the winery, allowing the exceptional terroir to fully express itself.
Jacques and Laurent Perrachon, LA BOTTIÈRE, JULIÉNAS Jacques Perrachon is one of Beaujolais' most fastidious wine-makers and the range of individual 'lieu-dit' sites that he and his sons own, produce wines with that little bit of extra 'dimension'. Jacques has handed over control of the estate to his son Laurent but it must be very useful to have a father with such a wealth of experience who is only too happy to be called on to carry out any task whatsoever. The thought of tasting the Perrachon's remarkable wines before a plate of still warm-from-the-oven gougères is brought in by Madame Perrachon is enough to make one high tail it to the Channel ports!
Domaine Champagnon, LES BRUREAUX, CHÉNAS Louis Champagnon is, quite simply, the best grower in the Beaujolais. This sprightly octogenarian has captivated the palates of many a Beaujolais lover over the years and, today, he is helped by his two sons, who are already heading into their forties! Louis has that 'knack', when it comes to wine-making, that some have and others strive for but never achieve. A wicked sense of humour, coupled with an intense passion for Beaujolais, has resulted in three decades of superb Chénas and has kept the flat cap miliners of Beaujolais in business all this time.
Domaine Fernand Verpoix, FLEURIE Situated in the lieu-dits of 'en Champagne', the Grille-Midi and in the 3.5 hectare Clos de la Chapelle des Bois, Fernand Verpoix (now ably assisted by his son) is in the unassailable position as the doyen of Fleurie growers. His wines reflect the care and attention the Fernand devotes to his vineyards and the hospitality that he lavishes on his visitors is second to none.
Domaine Paul Janin, MOULIN-À-VENT Paul Janin is a very serious wine-maker and his move towards bio-dynamic wine making and viticulture appears to have further elevated the quality of his already exceptional wines. However tempting it is to look at this approach as verging on sorcery, the end results really speak for themselves and we were amazed when we tasted them. Paul is trying to retire and hand over the day to day working of the vineyard and winery to his son Eric but it's hard when you live on site and are as passionate about your wines as Paul is.
Domaine du Clos des Carrières, ST.AMOUR The burley Christophe Terrier has quietly been working away in the background and is now one of Beaujolais's up-and-coming stars producing both red and white wines of substance and character.
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