Our Vineyard - Story 1

We count ourselves lucky to be a part of a project growing vines in the Beaujolais region in France. This project is one between a group of friends – the winemaker is Jean-Marc Lafont, who has made wine at Domaine de Bel Air, in Lantignié since 1985. The vineyard is 1.3 hectares in size, and here we pulled out the Gamay vines, and replanted Viognier and Syrah. Finally we tasted our wines last month!

Harvest Report 2011
For our French language readers, here is the delightful excerpt from the "delivery" e-mail from Jean-Marc, which is charming in its original form!
"En effet, je vous annonce la naissance de jumeaux, mais de faux jumeaux, puisque l'un s'appelle Viognier (pour l'instant) et a été récolté le 8 septembre, le deuxième s'appelle Syrah et est né avec quelques jours de retard sur son frère le 14/09. Les deux enfants se portent à merveille, le 1er pèse environ 850 litres et le second 3000 litres.

Pour l'instant les deux enfants sont prometteurs et font le bonheur de leur médecin accoucheur !! Nous espérons qu'ils feront également le bonheur de leurs parents pour une présentation dont la date reste à définir !!"

First Tasting
Last month we travelled back to Lantignié to taste the Viognier (still in tank) and the Syrah (still in oak casks). What a pleasure!
The Viognier – although still slightly "gassy" from the tank... what a nose! Pure floral fruitiness, with the typical lovely aroma's of the variety – peach, apricot, a slight nuttiness. Equally pleasing palate.
We can't wait for the final wine in the bottle!
The Syrah – Jean-Marc has oaked this in 1st, 2nd and 3rd fill barrels, which will later be blended. We tasted from each barrel and our favourite was the 2nd fill – not too much oak, but just enough to add to the wine's spicy character.
We are super pleased with Jean-Marc's hard work and creations! He is too, as you can see from the photos...!

Kristian at the resting grapevines.

Dormant and resting.

Satisfied looks - Viognier tasters, from left to right: winemaker Jean-Marc Lafont, friend Claude Lopez, and Kristian.

Claude and Jean-Marc tasting directly from the Syrah barrels.
 

There she is, our very lovely Syrah from a 2nd fill barrel.

Pedigree barrels in which the Syrah is ageing quietly.