Gamay Châteuvieux, Décrenisse, Côteaux du Lyonnais

Gamay Châteuvieux, Décrenisse, Côteaux du Lyonnais. Between the Rhône and Beaujolais, Franck Décrenisse makes this distinctive Gamay. A unique wine, thanks to the gravel/granite soils and dense plantings. No carbonic maceration, but more of a Burgundian style. Wonderfully juicy, generous, and fleshy, with plenty of body and fruit (strawberry!). And truly excellent value. Also try his beautiful Chardonnay!

• Serving: 14-15 °C

• Drinking: now until 2030

Discover the Côteaux du Lyonnais

Around France's culinary capital, Lyon, lies a relatively unknown wine region, the Côteaux du Lyonnais. Officially part of the Beaujolais wine region (which, in turn, officially belongs to Burgundy), Gamay is planted extensively here. However, winemaker Franck Décrenisse considers it more the northernmost Rhône wine region, thanks to its gravel and schist soils, similar to those in the northern Rhône.

In terms of grape varieties, you're indeed in both the Rhône and Burgundy regions . So, Gamay, Pinot Noir and Syrah, Viognier and Chardonnay. Décrenisse cultivates the vineyards by hand. On the steep hillsides, this is necessary (such as the Mont d'Or, just north of Lyon, near the village of Chasselay ). The vineyards are often densely planted, with 10,000 vines per hectare. This yields fewer grapes per vine, but with higher quality .

Franck Décrenisse has been managing the wine estate of approximately 17 hectares since 1993. His father and mother started in 1980. He works almost organically (HVE3) and is a member of Terra Vitis . All sorts of things grow between the rows of vines. And the hedges, walls, and trees offer protection and foster a wide range of biodiversity.

Gamay Châteuvieux, Décrenisse, Côteaux du Lyonnais