Alcohol: 12.5%
Grape(s): Gamay
Localization: Beaujolais, France
Tasting Notes: Domaine de Saint-Cyr 'Terroir de Bellevue' presents a bright ruby red appearance, inviting with aromas of fresh red berries like raspberry and wild strawberry, accented by floral hints and subtle spice. On the palate, it reveals delicate and complex fruit notes—juicy cherry, cranberry, and red currant—delivered in an infused style with light extraction and soft tannins. Earthy undertones of forest floor, mushroom, and mineral add depth, leading to a silky, refreshing, and persistent finish.
Notes: Terroir de Bellevue comes from a single old vine Gamay parcel in Anse planted by Raphael's grandfather in the 1950s. It's vinified in the semi-carbonic style of the Beaujolais, but the limestone terroir gives it a unique quality. If any wine from the Pierre Dorées could argue for its own cru, this would be it.
Food pairing: Domaine de Saint-Cyr 'Terroir de Bellevue' pairs wonderfully with a variety of dishes that highlight its delicate fruit and earthy complexity. Charcuterie and pâté, especially duck rillettes or pork terrine, complement the wine’s subtle spice and vibrant red fruit. Roast chicken with herbs benefits from the wine’s bright acidity and soft tannins, enhancing the flavors of tender poultry and aromatic seasonings. Grilled salmon or trout are elevated by Gamay’s berry notes, which add freshness without overwhelming the richness of the fish. Mushroom risotto mirrors the wine’s earthy undertones, while a beet and goat cheese salad plays beautifully with its brightness and tang.
The Domain: Raphael Saint-Cyr is the fourth generation to helm his family’s estate in Anse in the southern Beaujolais having taken over from his father in 2008 at the age of 22. After seeing his grandfather and uncle become sick as a result of chemical treatments in the vineyard, he made the decision to convert the entire estate to organic, a rarity particularly in the non-cru area of Beaujolais. He also was able to purchase a few hectares of vines within the more prestigious crus of the north beginning with Chénas.
Les Journets comes from a 1.5 hectare plot of vines in the south-east corner of Chénas bordering Moulin-a-Vent that Raphael purchased in 2017. This was the second parcel that he purchased in Chénas, the first being the Les Blémont vineyard further north, but he considers Les Journets his more age worthy cuvée, as the vines are slightly older and planted to relatively poorer (i.e., better for wine) soils of white granite.
