Domaine Louis Claude Desvignes : Château Gaillard 2023

Characteristics and tasting notes of the "Château Gaillard" 2023 from Domaine Louis Claude Desvignes

Tasting

Colour
The glass reveals a beautiful ruby red colour, ranging from pale to deep, with great clarity.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet is complex and expressive. It opens with fresh red fruit aromas such as cherry, strawberry and raspberry, enhanced by floral notes of violet. Subtle spicy touches of white pepper and a delicate minerality reminiscent of graphite complete the whole.

Palate
The attack is smooth and silky, revealing a velvety texture supported by fine, elegant tannins. The mid-palate, of medium body, confirms the fruity flavours perceived on the nose, enriched by a mineral dimension. The finish, remarkably long, extends with spicy notes and a lovely balance.

Food and wine pairing

This cuvée pairs wonderfully with roasted poultry, feathered game such as quail, or lean red meats accompanied by herbs or mustard. It will also enhance a mushroom risotto, hard cheeses or a platter of spicy charcuterie.

Service and storage

This 2023 vintage can be enjoyed from 2025, but its fine structure allows it to evolve favourably in the cellar, to be enjoyed until around 2035.

The elegance and depth of a great wine from the Morgon appellation

The estate

Officially founded in 1712, Domaine Louis Claude Desvignes represents one of the oldest winegrowing figures in Beaujolais. Today, the eighth generation, embodied by Claude-Emmanuelle and Louis-Benoît Desvignes, runs this 14.5-hectare vineyard. Faithful to their father's philosophy, they continue a traditional, minimal-intervention approach, while having obtained organic certification in 2023. The estate stands out for its commitment to producing structured age-worthy wines, entirely bottled on site, purely and authentically reflecting the unique terroirs of their region.

The vineyard

The "Château Gaillard" wine comes from a plot of around one hectare located in the Douby climat, in the north of the sector, near the border with Fleurie. This terroir benefits from a south-facing exposure and consists of sandy granite soils rich in decomposed schist, offering excellent drainage. The vines, from a massale selection, were planted between 1920 and 1953, some thus exceeding a century of existence. These old vines naturally limit yields, favouring optimal berry concentration.

The vintage

2023 stood out for its cooler climatic conditions compared to previous years. These moderate temperatures throughout the growing cycle allowed for slow and steady ripening of the berries. This coolness helped preserve natural acidity and aromatic clarity, thus avoiding excessive sugar accumulation.

Winemaking and aging

The grapes are hand-harvested with rigorous sorting. The winemaking process incorporates 10% destemmed grapes and 90% whole clusters. A semi-carbonic maceration takes place in concrete tanks for around ten days, with strict temperature control kept below 25°C. After malolactic fermentation, the wine is aged in these same concrete tanks for seven to nine months, without oak influence, before light filtration at bottling.

Grape variety

Gamay (100%)