Christophe Pacalet
Christophe started his career as a chef, he never studied winemaking. Instead, he learnt on the job with his uncle, the late Marcel Lapierre. With his help, Christophe started his own business in 1999 as a micro-négoce based in Cercié at the base of Mount Brouilly.
Christophe shares the same philosophy as his uncle, for low intervention, minimum sulphur, and sheer hard work. He focuses primarily on purchasing pristine organic grapes from Beaujolais growers with whom he has long supply contracts; many have been working with him since day one.
Through his meticulous work and philosophy, he is reshaping the classic way of thinking of bought in grapes. He also owns a vineyard in Fleurie called Les Labourons, which he cultivates using organic methods. Les Labourons is a higher altitude vineyard in Fleurie on the Julienas and Chenas border. This lieu dit produces more ethereal wines.
Beaujolais Villages comes from two plots situated in La Chapelle de Guinchay in the Northern (Burgundy) part of the region and the other in the up and coming probably soon to be Cru Lantignié,
Cote de Brouilly produces a darker and fruitier style on the famous “Pierre Bleue” soil (Métatufs and Métadiorites). Vinified in 228L old Barrels for 6 months.
Moulin a Vent on his part is a mix of 4 small plot, therefore the soils are complex from pink Granite “Gore”, Manganese, and soft granite.
His century old cellar is on the outskirts of Cercié, conveniently situated for all the appellations he vinifies. Carbonic fermentation occurs at ground level and all the maturation happens in the old cellar underneath; all barrels are filled using gravity.
The wines express all aspects of what quality Beaujolais stands for: bonhomie, good times, and an invitation to share a good meal with friends. It is an honour to be representing him in the UK.
The Wines
Beaujolais being at the doorstep of Burgundy, it's only logic that some vineyards are planted with Chardonnay. The wines differ slightly from their cousin in nearby Saint Veran, Macon or Pouilly-Fuisse appellation, mainly due to the granite soil found in Beaujolais providing a zingy freshness and mineral core to counterbalance the fullness of the fruit. This fine example from Christophe Pacalet is focused on this pure and lifted caracter with a vinification in stainless steel vat to leave the terroir breeze in the wine. A zippy fresh and elegant wine made with indeginous yeasts and no addition of sulphur in the vinification process. This will go well with goats cheeses, stuffed courgette flower and anything that screams summer!
Les Labourons is Christophe’s very own plot, allowing the true full journey of his hard work in the vineyards to shine through into the wine. Spending closer to 8 months in barrel, Les Labourons offers up a little more complexity. Pure and concentrated, the wine shows real elegance and flair.
Christophe's Cote de Brouilly offers the classical expression of this Beaujolais Cru. Like many wines from this region, semi-carbonic maceration helps provide the wine with intense dark fruit charatcer whilst still enabling its playful lighter style. Christophe opts for vinifiying and ageing in 228l old oak barrels that impart little to no oaky notes, allowing the wine to speak of its terroir freely.
Christophe’s Moulin a Vent comes from a mixture of 4 small plots all varied with their terroir, therefore the soils are complex from pink Granite “Gore”, Manganese, and soft granite. With it being the most northerly of his holdings, there is freshness and refinement, almost as if the wine was chiselled from the granite.
Christophe's Cote de Brouilly offers the classical expression of this Beaujolais Cru. Like many wines from this region, semi-carbonic maceration helps provide the wine with intense dark fruit charatcer whilst still enabling its playful lighter style. Christophe opts for vinifiying and ageing in 228l old oak barrels that impart little to no oaky notes, allowing the wine to speak of its terroir freely.
Les Labourons is Christophe’s very own plot, allowing the true full journey of his hard work in the vineyards to shine through into the wine. Spending closer to 8 months in barrel, Les Labourons offers up a little more complexity. Pure and concentrated, the wine shows real elegance and flair.
It is often said that a wine looks like to the person who makes it. We couldn't agree more with this Beaujolais Villages from Christophe Pacalet. Proud of his Beaujolais roots and a Bon Vivant, his wines transpires humility and gourmandise in the most delicious way. Coming from two distinctive vineyards, one in the North of Beaujolais and one in the South. As a nephew of legendary natural maker Marcel Lapierre, Christophe was mentored by him and follows the same principles. This Beaujolais Villages is delivering on many levels, from fruitiness, soft tannins and savoury tones. More complex than his appellation suggests, a fine example and a huge crowd-pleaser.