Pascal Aufranc "En Rémont" Chénas Gamay Noir 2023

Winemaking

Pascal Aufranc crafts wines that honor the distinctive character of Chénas, one of Beaujolais's finest crus. His approach emphasizes the purity of Gamay and the mineral expression of the granite terroir, allowing the vineyard to speak rather than imposing heavy-handed extraction or oak.

Tasting Notes

This is a beautifully restrained Gamay that opens with bright red fruit—cherry and raspberry dominate—alongside delicate floral and mineral aromatics. The palate is silky and refined, with a slight spice note adding complexity without disrupting the wine's natural elegance. Fine-grained tannins and crisp acidity carry through to a clean, refreshing finish that lingers with a whisper of granite minerality.

Producer

Domaine Pascal Aufranc is a small, quality-focused producer in Chénas, the northernmost and most prestigious cru of Beaujolais. The domaine has built its reputation on respectful winemaking that showcases the unique terroir of granite-based vineyards in this compact appellation.

Terroir

Chénas sits in the northern Beaujolais crus, where blue granite soils create wines of unusual structure and mineral precision for Gamay. The granite bedrock imparts a subtle smokiness and salinity that distinguishes Chénas from its neighbors, while the continental climate of the region produces wines with crisp acidity and fine tannin development.

Food Pairings

This wine shines alongside charcuterie and soft cheeses—think jambon de Paris with Époisses—or a simple grilled chicken breast with thyme. For something more composed, try pan-seared duck breast with a cherry gastrique, where the wine's acidity and red fruit cut beautifully through the richness of the meat.