Domaine Chamonard (JC Chanudet) Fleurie - La Madone

Jean-Claude Chanudet, affectionately known as Le Chat, shares a rich history with the late Marcel Lapierre, his childhood friend and fellow globetrotter. Together, they embarked on adventures across the globe, immersing themselves in various cultures while honing their skills in winemaking. Their collaborative efforts extended to establishing Château Cambon, a venture Jean-Claude continues alongside Marcel's wife to this day.

Upon the passing of his father-in-law in 1990, Jean-Claude, the discreet yet magnetic personality, made the decision to settle down, taking the reins of Domaine Joseph Chamonard. He was among the pioneers advocating for natural wine, although he now distances himself from the movement's rigid dogma, viewing it as akin to a new religion.

Together with his wife Geneviève, Jean-Claude tends to 5 hectares of vines in Morgon and an additional 0.5 hectares of 60-year-old vines in Fleurie, nestled on the revered slope of La Madone. Embracing a philosophy of minimal intervention, they vinify their wines with whole clusters via carbonic maceration, before aging them in a combination of foudres, barrels, and stainless steel, adjusting the proportions annually to best complement the fruit's qualities. They believe in the inherent finesse of Gamay, eschewing over-extraction to craft wines of longevity, characterized by delicate hues, a velvety texture, and pronounced minerality.

Their Fleurie 2019 La Madone, sourced from the eponymous plot renowned as the most prestigious in Fleurie, sits atop the appellation at 430 meters. Here, the soil, composed of pale pink decomposed granite over a granite bedrock, imparts a unique character to the wine. Jean-Claude, alongside Marcel Lapierre, pioneers of sustainable viticulture and minimal sulfur usage, endeavors to showcase the utmost elegance from Geneviève's vines. With its subtle violet aromas, supple texture, and a harmonious blend of red and black fruits underscored by a firm mineral backbone, this wine epitomizes finesse.