# Les Petits Bois (2024)

- **Producer:** Domaine Saint-Cyr
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Gamay
- **Region:** Beaujolais, France
- **Style:** Natural
- **Alcohol:** 12.0%
- **Average price:** €23
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 14–16 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** strawberry, cherry, blackberry, violet, liquorice, cedar

## About this wine

Domaine Saint-Cyr is located in Anse in southern Beaujolais. Vigneron Raphaël Saint-Cyr represents the fourth generation at the estate, which was founded in 1963 by his great-grandfather Pierre. In 2008, Raphaël converted the entire 23-hectare estate to certified organic farming, making it one of the largest organic estates in the region. Les Petits Bois is designated as a Cuvée Éphémère, sourced from a small plot of 30-year-old Gamay vines adjacent to the La Bruyère lieu-dit in Moulin-à-Vent, vinified separately only in generous vintages.

## Interesting facts

- Produced as a Cuvée Éphémère, this bottling is vinified separately only in exceptionally generous vintages.
- Raphaël Saint-Cyr converted all 23+ hectares of his family estate to certified organic farming in 2008.
- Sourced from a tiny plot of 30-year-old Gamay vines planted in alluvial granite soils.

## Food pairing

The wine's vibrant acidity and low tannin structure complement delicate proteins like pork, poultry, and veal without overwhelming them. High natural acidity cuts through rich charcuterie and creamy mushroom sauces effortlessly.

## Wine making process

Hand-harvested whole clusters undergo cold carbonic maceration in concrete tanks for an average of 15 days, including a 10-day cold pre-fermentation phase. Alcoholic fermentation relies entirely on ambient native yeasts with no additives. Malolactic fermentation occurs naturally. The wine ages for 10 months split equally between old oak barrels and neutral concrete vats. It is bottled unfiltered with only minimal sulfites added at bottling.