2020 Chateau de La Chaize Fleurie Beaujolais 750 ml

There’s Beaujolais, with its fruit-forward, kick-back-and-enjoy reputation. 

Then there’s cru Beaujolais: Serious wines from the region’s patchwork of ten appellations that “can stand against many fine Burgundies,” according to Wine Enthusiast. Among them, none are more ethereal, supple, and hauntingly aromatic as those from Fleurie. 

Ensconced in the region’s granite-rich hills, the small cru is often called “the Queen of Beaujolais” for its wines’ elegance and grace, and the Château de la Chaize shows why Fleurie takes the throne. Aromas cascade in waves of red fruit, dried herbs, and red roses (Fleurie means “flowery”), and the palate is dynamic and juicy, and driven by lively acidity. 

The grape here is Gamay, the variety that composes 98% of Beaujolais’ vineyards. Rarely do you see such a perfect marriage of grape and region—Gamay is incredibly versatile, and Beaujolais crus have the diverse terroir to let it run the gamut of its expressions. Earth-tinged power from Moulin-à-Vent. Robust density from Morgon. In Fleurie, planted at elevation and rooted in pink granite soils, it takes on a lighter-bodied refinement. 

Beaujolais’ cru wines have been on a decades-long rise in international renown. Big names are buying up property, and Fleurie alone has seven lieux-dits up for Premier Cru classification. Yet it’s still one of our go-to regions under-the-radar outliers like Château de la Chaize.

They’ve been making cru Beaujolais since long before the region even had a reputation in the U.S. Founded in 1676, they’ve since accumulated 23 plots in four crus, from which they produce all their wines. They ferment each lot separately and prioritize low-intervention winemaking, allowing each cru to speak for itself—and the 2020 Fleurie has a lot to say.