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I search out wines as naturally made as possible; but only if this contributes to the wine being better. Domaine du Vissoux may just be the most perfect expression in my whole portfolio of what I seek, for this very ability to be natural and great, at once. First natural. How’s this: Pierre Chermette’s yields are so low and the grapes so naturally ripe that he does not chaptalize. He uses only indigenous yeasts (no "banana yeast" culture, a la Duboeuf). Then a traditional, longer fermentation, aging in oak foudre and bottling for us with no filtration, and without adding any sulfites, in most vintages. It is as natural a Beaujolais as one could have had in a café in Lyon in the 40’s. As for quality, Domaine du Vissoux is the Beaujolais at Willi’s in Paris, Cave la Grande, and just about every Bar-A-Vin in Paris. Revue du Vin de France says: "Striking robe intense and blue-purple. The nose is pure, but discreet, the palate expresses itself fully, with both vivacity and a beautiful persistence of ripe fruit."

Pierre Chermette and his wife Martine also have wines in two of the Cru. Their parcel of Moulin-A-Vent is named Rochegres, and the wine so structured that it is aged in oak barrique. In Fleurie they have a parcel in Poncie (making perhaps one of the most classic and balanced Fleurie I have ever tasted) and, with ’96, Les Garants (to Fleurie what Romanee-Conti is to Vosne-Romanee.) His one-star rating in Revue du Vin de France Classification "is near".

From Le Classement, 2000 Revue du Vin de France

"This domaine owes its fame to its non-chapitalized Beaujolais with fruit of incomparable naturalness and has been popularized by the caves of Legrand in Paris. Pierre-Marie Chermette understood before his competitors did to what point people were mechanically drinking semi-industrial Primeurs and that it was necessary to return to basics and to the source. This wine certainly merits his success because of its astonishing naturalness and the aromatic delicacy of the non-manipulated Gamay Cepage. But the domaine also knows how to produce a wine for short-range laying down that is subtly perfumed. The ‘98s are among the most successful of the decade and the most full-bodied among them deserve a good year’s aging in bottle. Pierre-Marie Chermette has been able recently to buy some very well situated parcels in Fleurie and in Moulin a Vent and since 1994 applies sound principles to their cultivation and vinification, producing exemplary wines. The vines of Poncie are not yet old enough to produce nectar, but with their full southern exposure, their wine is as replete with definition as one could wish. Les Garants produce a very full-bodied Fleurie but softer and with more tones of reglise. From Rochegres comes a Moulin a Vent particularly fine and subtle. It’s here that the potential of the ’98 vintage is shown, when in the right hands."

Technical Information:

Domaine du Vissoux 2007 Beaujolais Primeur Vieilles Vignes
Domaine du Vissoux 2007 Beaujolais Primeur Pierre Chermette