Viniou Reviews
Domaine Chardigny’s Saint-Amour “Cuvée À la Folie” 2017 is a notable red wine hailing from the northernmost cru of Beaujolais. Crafted exclusively from the Gamay grape, this vintage captures the luminous charm and finesse typical of the region. The grapes are cultivated on hillsides blessed with a mixture of granite, clay, and alluvial soils, contributing both aromatic complexity and structure to the wine. Traditional vinification methods, often including a portion of semi-carbonic maceration, emphasise bright red fruit character—think wild strawberry, raspberry, and ripe cherry—while a deft touch of spice and floral notes such as peony or violet adds charm. The 2017 vintage benefits from a balanced growing season, lending ripe tannins and a fresh, accessible profile.
The Beaujolais region, nestled just south of Burgundy and north of Lyon, boasts a semi-continental climate with warm summers and relatively mild winters. In Saint-Amour, microclimates and fragmented soils allow for expressive, individualistic wines. Beaujolais has a long-standing viticultural heritage, renowned for producing vibrant, fruit-forward reds with the Gamay grape. Saint-Amour in particular is famed for its romantic connotations and elegant, food-friendly wines.
For pairings, this Saint-Amour delightfully complements charcuterie, terrines, and pâtés typical of the Lyonnaise tradition. It matches beautifully with roasted poultry, duck breast with cherry sauce, or grilled pork tenderloin. Regional cheese such as Saint-Marcellin or Tomme de Savoie highlights its freshness and subtle earthiness, while more adventurous combinations might include Asian duck dishes, whose sweet-savoury flavours resonate with Gamay’s vivacity.
For optimal enjoyment, serve this wine slightly cool, ideally at 13-15°C. Decanting for around 30 minutes allows its bouquet to unfurl, revealing both the enticing fruit and delicate floral characteristics. Saint-Amour “À la Folie” 2017 is drinking wonderfully now but can evolve a few more years, gaining even greater complexity with maturity.
