AUSTRALIA WIDE FREE SHIPPING

Screwcap. This Beaujolais cherrybomb is drawn from 20- to 40-year-old vines grown on dark, granite soils around the Chermette homestead in Saint-Vérand (southern Beaujolais). The winemaking here has remained unchanged for decades, with traditional whole-bunch, semi-carbonic ferment in concrete tanks and then maturation in tank and ancient oak casks still the order of the day.

As opposed to his age-worthy Crus from Moulin-a-Vent, Fleurie, et al, Chermette’s aim here is to produce something light-bodied and cherry-fruited with reach-for-another-glass charm–something the juicy-crunchy 2019 nails with ease. From one of the region’s great addresses, this is a punchy and buoyant red that goes down dangerously easily.

“Pierre-Marie Chermette may be stepping back to allow his son Jean-Etienne to run things at vintage but when the press breaks down, its Pierre-Marie who pulls it apart. I witnessed just that in September 2019. The juice flowing that day is now in bottle and it smells as delicious as it did then. Lush red currant and tart cherry aromas are echoed on the palate with a whisker of juicy cassis. Crunchy acidity and gentle tannins refresh the finish. It’s sealed with a screwcap to capture its energy.” Best Buy Wines, Imports $35 and Under, GT Wine, Feb 2021