Chénas Quartz

Accompanies wonderfully simple and local cuisine, especially meat dishes, pot-aufeu, stews.

The Chénas cru is the smallest in surface area of the Beaujolais crus, which makes it a rare wine. The climate is continental. This unique 9 ha plot, on a steep slope, faces east between 310 and 380 meters above sea level and the vines are around 60 years old. The granite, covered with Quartz crystals gives this wine a distinct personality.

About 30% of the harvest is aged in oak barrels for a few months, to create roundness and elegance for the final wine.

Grapes are harvested by hand,sorted over a table and partially destemmed. A first phase of semi-carbonic fermentation for a few days is followed by a period of regular punching down, à la "Bourguignonne", and pumping over, in total between 18 and 20 days of fermentation.

Starting with the Romans wine growing has developed since the 3rd century. Dominique Piron’s oldest known ancestor was born in Morgon in 1590. Since then there have been 14 generations of wine growers in the family. Morgon and Moulin à Vent wines have long been renowned among France’s finest wines. In a vineyard with difficult terrain− 30% steep slopes and a virtual patchwork of parcels Dominique Piron is engaged in sustainable winegrowing. On winegrowing land filled with old broken-down granite and schist the watchwords are natural balance and biodiversity. For vinification our goal is to create terroir wines wines of character that remain fruity subtle and elegant.