Saint-Amour 2018
Stéphane Aviron
Terroir: The Saint-Amour cru is in the northern part of the Cru Beaujolais area, not far from the Maconnais where Chardonnay is grown. The terroir here starts to shift and become more similar to the soils of Burgundy, still with granite soils, but clay and limestone start to be present in Saint-Amour soils as well.
These soils with clay are limestone create the heavier style of Saint-Amour with a darker color, more alcohol and coarser in style. Compared to the elegant, fine Fleurie, the Stéphane Aviron’s Saint-Amour is structured and firm, but still with soft, red fruit.
Vinification: The grapes are hand-harvested and then vinified in the traditional Beaujolais style. Whole bunches are used followed by seven to eight days of maceration before pressing. The wine is then aged completely in cement tank, to retain the bright fruit of the Saint-Amour.
Additional Information
About the Vintage: 2018 was one of the best vintages Stéphane Aviron has made in the past twenty years and by some considerations a perfect vintage for Beaujolais!
Winter was cold and rainy which provided the vines with a water reserve to last into the growing season. Spring was warm. Summer was dry and warm with no disease present in the vineyards.
Harvest started at the end of August and continued until the beginning to September for some of the later-ripening vineyards.
The wines are high alcohol, but still very good balance between acidity and alcohol, creating harmonious wines. All the conditions for a great wine were met, resulting in a legendary vintage for Beaujolais.
Saint-Amour makes a fine wine that is easy to drink and it soft, but still fruit-forward.
Technical Details
- Appellation: Saint-Amour
- Winemaker: Stéphane Aviron
- Sustainability: Sustainable Practices
- Soil: Granite, clay, and limestone
- Alcohol: 13.0%
- Sizes Available: 750ml
- Pack Size: 12/750ml
- Varietals: 100% Gamay
