This mouthwatering crowd-pleaser is named after a grove of cherry trees that flank the vineyard. The fruit is drawn from 30- to 40-year-old Gamay vines, grown in dark granite soils around the Chermette homestead in Saint-Vérand, southern Beaujolais. In contrast to his age-worthy Crus from Moulin-à-Vent and Fleurie et al., Chermette aims to produce something light-to-medium-bodied, bright and cherry-fruited with reach-for-another-glass charm.

The winemaking has remained unchanged for decades, with traditional whole-bunch, semi-carbonic fermentation in concrete tanks followed by maturation in tank and old oak casks still the order of the day. The nose is so exuberant you could be tasting out of barrel, flush with easy-going, lip-smacking red fruit flecked by red floral notes. The palate tells the same story through waves of vibrant, tangy berries and cherrystone fruit. As always, it is a delicious, moreish wine and fabulous value.

This mouthwatering crowd-pleaser is named after a grove of cherry trees that flank the vineyard. The fruit is drawn from 30- to 40-year-old Gamay vines, grown in dark granite soils around the Chermette homestead in Saint-Vérand, southern Beaujolais. In contrast to his age-worthy Crus from Moulin-à-Vent and Fleurie et al., Chermette aims to produce something light-to-medium-bodied, bright and cherry-fruited with reach-for-another-glass charm.

The winemaking has remained unchanged for decades, with traditional whole-bunch, semi-carbonic fermentation in concrete tanks followed by maturation in tank and old oak casks still the order of the day. The nose is so exuberant you could be tasting out of barrel, flush with easy-going, lip-smacking red fruit flecked by red floral notes. The palate tells the same story through waves of vibrant, tangy berries and cherrystone fruit. As always, it is a delicious, moreish wine and fabulous value.

This mouthwatering crowd-pleaser is named after a grove of cherry trees that flank the vineyard. The fruit is drawn from 30- to 40-year-old Gamay vines, grown in dark granite soils around the Chermette homestead in Saint-Vérand, southern Beaujolais. In contrast to his age-worthy Crus from Moulin-à-Vent and Fleurie et al., Chermette aims to produce something light-to-medium-bodied, bright and cherry-fruited with reach-for-another-glass charm. 

The winemaking has remained unchanged for decades, with traditional whole-bunch, semi-carbonic fermentation in concrete tanks followed by maturation in tank and old oak casks still the order of the day. The nose is so exuberant you could be tasting out of barrel, flush with easy-going, lip-smacking red fruit flecked by red floral notes. The palate tells the same story through waves of vibrant, tangy berries and cherrystone fruit. As always, it is a delicious, moreish wine and fabulous value.

This mouthwatering crowd-pleaser is named after a grove of cherry trees that flank the vineyard. The fruit is drawn from 30- to 40-year-old Gamay vines, grown in dark granite soils around the Chermette homestead in Saint-Vérand, southern Beaujolais. In contrast to his age-worthy Crus from Moulin-à-Vent and Fleurie et al., Chermette aims to produce something light-to-medium-bodied, bright and cherry-fruited with reach-for-another-glass charm.

The winemaking has remained unchanged for decades, with traditional whole-bunch, semi-carbonic fermentation in concrete tanks followed by maturation in tank and old oak casks still the order of the day. The nose is so exuberant you could be tasting out of barrel, flush with easy-going, lip-smacking red fruit flecked by red floral notes. The palate tells the same story through waves of vibrant, tangy berries and cherrystone fruit. As always, it is a delicious, moreish wine and fabulous value.

This cracking dry sparkling wine is 100% Chardonnay from a single parcel of vines just north of the Chermette cellars in Le Bois-d’Oingt. It’s a 2.5-hectare, southwest-facing site on limestone/clay soil―perfect for Chardonnay. The wine ages for 18 months in bottle, minimum sulphur is used, it is neither fined nor filtered, and very little dosage is added (4 g/L).

This shipment is a blend of 2018, 2019 and 2020 and is showing creamier, lemon-curd intensity and more length than previous bottlings—perhaps due to the low yields and warmer vintages involved. There are well-pitched notes of pear, citrus, chamomile, toasted hazelnuts and subtle buttery brioche, while the palate is vinous, focused and balanced by stony acidity. We love the fine, airy bubbles and the fresh, sculpted energy and finesse. If you don’t know this wine, do yourself a favour; French sparkling wine this impressive, at this price, does not grow on trees.