Domaine St. Cyr Beaujolais "Terroir de Bellevue" 2022

Winemaking

Domaine St. Cyr is a small family estate in the Beaujolais region with a focus on expressing the distinct terroir of their individual vineyard parcels — as the "Terroir de Bellevue" designation itself suggests. Their approach leans toward minimal intervention in the cellar, allowing the natural character of Gamay grown on their specific soils to speak clearly in the glass.

Tasting Notes

This is Beaujolais at its most expressive and composed. The nose opens with vibrant aromas of fresh cherry and raspberry, lifted by a delicate violet note and an earthy, almost stony undercurrent that hints at something more serious than your everyday Beaujolais. On the palate, the wine is bright and elegant — juicy red fruit carried along by fine, silky tannins and a lively acidity that keeps everything in motion. The finish lingers with a clean mineral quality that makes you reach for another sip.

Producer

The estate's decision to single out the Bellevue parcel under its own label speaks to a grower-focused philosophy — one that treats Beaujolais not as a blended regional wine but as a place where individual sites carry real meaning. While Beaujolais is often dominated by négociant bottlings, small domaines like St. Cyr represent the region's more artisan side, farming their own vines and bottling their own fruit.

Terroir

Beaujolais sits just south of Burgundy in eastern France, and while it shares some of that region's granite and schist-laced soils, it has a personality entirely its own. The broader Beaujolais appellation — distinct from the cru villages to the north — can produce wines of genuine freshness and terroir character when yields are managed and the right parcels are chosen. The 2022 vintage brought warm, dry conditions across the region, yielding ripe, concentrated fruit while retaining the acidity that makes Gamay such a pleasure to drink.

Food Pairings

The wine's bright acidity and cherry-driven fruit make it a natural companion to a charcuterie spread — think jambon, cornichons, and a soft ripened cheese like Époisses. For something more composed, try it alongside roasted chicken thighs with a cherry and thyme pan sauce, where the wine's red fruit and earthy notes will mirror the dish beautifully. It's also the kind of bottle you open on a Tuesday with a good mushroom and herb flatbread — no occasion required.