In the heart of the Beaujolais region, in a bucolic, undulating landscape bordered by oak groves and exposed rocks, a beautiful 18th-century mansion is home to Domaine Louis-Claude Desvignes. Based in Villié-Morgon, this estate was founded in 1722 and has been a family business run with passion for eight generations. The winemaker's two children, Claude-Emmanuelle and Louis-Benoît, now run the estate. Their motto: "the more limited the means, the stronger the expression".
Situated in the heart of the Morgon appellation, the 11-hectare vineyard is planted exclusively with Gamay grapes. It is spread over 3 different climats, forming a mosaic of terroirs. Vines over 70 years old are planted on the light sandstone soils of Douby. On the Côte du Py (Le Petit Py) climats, the 2.5-hectare single vineyard is planted on decomposed schist terroir, while the Javernières climat is planted on clay soils.
Personnage emblématique du Beaujolais, Louis-Claude Desvignes fait partie de ces grands vignerons qui portent toute leur attention à la vigne de façon méticuleuse avec une intervention au chai limitée. Les vignes sont labourées et le travail est effectué selon les méthodes de l'agriculture biologique depuis 2005. Les vieilles vignes sont taillées en gobelet tandis que les nouvelles plantations sont taillées en cordon de Royat.
Louis-Claude Desvignes is an emblematic figure of the Beaujolais region, one of those great winegrowers who pay meticulous attention to the vines, with little intervention in the cellar. The vines are ploughed and the work has been carried out using organic farming methods since 2005. The old vines are gobelet pruned, while the new plantations are short pruned in the Cordon de Royat fashioned.
In the winery, the grapes are sorted and then vatted for 14 days. After pressing and settling, the wines are aged on fine lees in cement vats.
Louis-Claude Desvignes' wines are typical of the Morgon appellation, with fruit that bursts with freshness and gourmet flavour, and a full-bodied, structured palate. The Desvignes family aims to produce wines that are not overdressed, with good tension and fine bitters. The wines for pleasure have a strong acidity that highlights the fruit, while the wines for laying down have that silky texture with melted tannins that is so delicious. Louis-Claude Desvignes' wines are an invitation to discover the unique expression of Morgon's different soil types and climates.
