Domaine les Cardinaux Cote de Brouilly, Beaujolais, France

Fresh red and dark berries, cracked pepper, smoke, and a saline mineral edge shape an elegant, medium-bodied expression of Gamay. 2022 Domaine Les Cardinaux Cote de Brouilly Preface is the second vintage from a friendship-driven project established by Laure, Tannegui, and Thibault, drawn from a small north-facing parcel on the volcanic slopes of Mont Brouilly. More assured than the difficult inaugural vintage, the 2022 reflects the founders’ goal of building a lasting connection between family, friendship, vineyard knowledge, and the distinctive blue-stone soils of Côte de Brouilly.

Product Details:

• Owners: Laure, Tannegui, and Thibault
• Winemaker: Thibault Poisson
• Grapes: 100% Gamay
• Vineyard Source: 2.4-hectare Les Berthaudières parcel on the slopes of Mont Brouilly with a 359° north-facing exposure
• Soil: Volcanic and plutonic rock with Côte de Brouilly blue stones composed of hard schist and diorite
• Harvest Method: Hand harvested into 15 kg buckets with sorting in the vineyard and again at the cellar
• Harvest Period: Began August 31, 2022
• Fermentation: Whole clusters transferred by gravity into concrete vats and fermented for approximately 10 days, with twice-daily pumpovers and aeration
• Extraction: Racking and return of the fermenting juice encouraged gentle extraction as the grapes pressed under their own weight
• Aging: Matured in large foudres and a small concrete vat
• Production: Approximately 50 hL
• Case Production: 6,738 bottles

Sensory Description:

Fresh berry fruit leads the aromatic profile, joined by cracked pepper, subtle smoke, and a stony mineral character associated with the blue-rock soils of Mont Brouilly. The palate is supple and medium-bodied rather than heavily extracted, with silky fruit, fine tannins, and a bright mineral line providing definition. Peppery spice, smoky nuance, and a lightly saline impression emerge through the finish, giving the wine both freshness and a distinct sense of place.

Winemaker’s Background:

Domaine Les Cardinaux began in 2020 as the shared project of longtime friends Laure, Tannegui, and Thibault. Their aim extends beyond producing wine: the founders describe the domaine as a way to pass vineyard knowledge, culture, respect for terroir, and the values of family and friendship to the next generation. The estate centers on 2.4 hectares on Mont Brouilly, where volcanic and plutonic formations include the hard schist and diorite locally associated with Côte de Brouilly’s blue stones. The first 2021 bottling was called “Préface,” reflecting its role as the introduction to a new project. After the warmer and more successful 2022 season produced a wine much closer to their intended profile, the founders removed “Préface” from the label, marking the second vintage as a more confident expression of the domaine.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve at approximately 14-16°C in a Burgundy or medium-sized red wine glass. A light chill emphasizes the wine’s fresh fruit, pepper, and mineral definition. Pair with roast chicken, charcuterie, duck, grilled pork, mushroom dishes, lentils, or semi-firm cheeses. Its moderate body and savory mineral character also make it a flexible partner for herb-driven and lightly spiced dishes.