# Château de La Chaize Côte de Brouilly Lieu-dit Brulhié (2023)

- **Producer:** Château de La Chaize
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Gamay
- **Region:** Beaujolais, France
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 13.5%
- **Average price:** €35
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 14–16 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** cherry, plum, raspberry, violet, black pepper, smoke, forest floor, mushroom

## About this wine

Château de La Chaize, established in 1676, is one of the most historic and grandest estates in the Beaujolais region. The estate's magnificent château and gardens were designed by the same architects responsible for Versailles. Located in Odenas, the estate is currently managed by the Gruy family, who have implemented a highly ambitious environmental plan, transitioning all 150 hectares of vineyards to organic farming and aiming for zero-carbon operations. The 'Brulhié' lieu-dit is a prized two-hectare single vineyard situated on the steep, south-facing slopes of Mont Brouilly. The name 'Brulhié' is an ancient spelling of Brouilly, meaning 'burnt' or 'scorched,' referencing the intense sunlight this amphitheater-like parcel receives.

## Interesting facts

- The name Brulhié is an old spelling of Brouilly, meaning 'burnt' or 'scorched' due to its intense, south-facing sun exposure.
- The estate's historic château and formal gardens were designed by the legendary architects of the Palace of Versailles.
- The vineyard is planted on rare 'pierre bleue' (blue stone), a volcanic diorite rock that gives the wine a distinct graphite minerality.
- Château de La Chaize is executing a zero-carbon plan, including planting 50,000 trees to foster biodiversity.

## Food pairing

This Côte de Brouilly possesses vibrant acidity, medium-plus tannins, and a distinct mineral core that makes it exceptionally food-friendly. The wine's bright red fruit and high acidity cut through the richness of fatty meats like duck and lamb, while its structured tannins pair beautifully with the proteins in grilled steak. The earthy, volcanic minerality of the 'pierre bleue' soil harmonizes wonderfully with wild mushrooms and cured charcuterie, while avoiding heavy oak allows it to complement rather than overpower delicate herbs.

## Wine making process

The winemaking process for the 2023 vintage of Lieu-dit Brulhié reflects a meticulous, non-interventionist approach designed to preserve the purity of the Gamay grape and the unique volcanic terroir. Grapes are hand-harvested from 70-year-old vines and strictly sorted. For this vintage, the fruit was 100% destemmed to maintain freshness and elegance. Fermentation takes place in concrete tanks with native yeasts over a 14-day maceration period. Gentle pumping over (remontage) and offloading (délestage) are utilized, while cap treading (pigeage) is avoided to prevent the extraction of harsh tannins. The wine is then aged for 14 months in neutral oak foudres (large oak vats) to allow slow oxygenation without imparting dominant oak flavors. Minimal sulfur is added only after malolactic fermentation and at bottling.