Producer: Domaine Frederic Sornin
Wine: 2022 Beaujolais-Village Naturel Red Certified Organic
Varietal: 100% Gamay
Food: Best enjoyed lightly chilled with charcuterie, cheeses, pâtés, terrines, rillettes, hard salami and soft and semi-soft cheeses - Comté, Brie and Camembert.
Cellaring: Drink now or hold until 2027
DOMAINE FREDERIC SORNIN
Beaujolais
Frédéric Sornin is a 9th generation winemaker who took over
his family estate in 1978. He produces certified organic wines
and tend over 35 acres, divided between holdings in Beaujolais-
Villages, Lantignie, Cru Regnie and the Cru Morgon “Les
Charmes”.
Vineyard is ocated in the climat « Les Charmes » in the Cru Morgon at the border of the Regnie appellation. Vines between 50-60 year old on average. High density of 10 000 feet/ha. Very poor soil made of granite sand and silt soils.
The average age of vines are 50-60 year old and his production
yield is very low between 20 to 40 hl/ha depending on the
conditions of the year.
Frédéric farms his land naturally and fermentation progresses
in a leisurely fashion with indigenous yeasts. Grapes are hand
harvested and only a tiny bit of sulfur is added at bottling.
Frédéric practices an organic farming (certified) in his vines: plowing the soil with his
horse, only use of sulfurs and copper in the vines. Manual pruning in “bushes” very short
according to the position of the moon. Manual harvest. Use of native yeasts for fermentation.
Whole cluster fermentation in gridded vats to maintain cap down. Maceration 20 days in concrete
vats. Aging on fine lees in cement for 9 months before bottling. Light addition of SO2 before
bottling. (less than 30ppm)
The Beaujolais-Villages appellation grows on the best slopes in the region. Spread over 38 municipalities, this prestigious appellation springs from a poor, arid terroir of granite, sand and volcanic sedimentary soils. Gamay, the Beaujolais region’s iconic grape variety fully expresses itself here: Beaujolais-Villages are expressive wines, intensely fruity and perfumed, with good body.
It’s time to take you into the heart of this appellation to discover all the passion that its 1,250 winegrowers put into producing it. If you’ve already had the opportunity to visit the Beaujolais-Villages appellation area, you’ve no doubt noticed the magnificent château above the vineyards. This wonderful estate in the Pierres Dorées area is hard to miss. People call it Sleeping Beauty’s castle but its real name is Château de Montmelas. It was restored in neo-Gothic style in the 19th century but its history goes way back to 957.
Back then, it was the residence of the Lords of Beaujeu who gave their name to the Beaujolais region, as you may well have guessed! It was also at this time that the monks at Cluny contributed to the development of the vineyards over numerous slopes that would later form part of the appellation.
Information by Beaujolais
