Chateau de Varennes Beaujolais-Villages

Maison Albert Bichot was established in Beaune in 1831 by Bernard Bichot, grandfather of the first of a line of Albert Bichots.

The current managing director is Alberic Bichot (born 1964) who has revitalised the business which is now based around a series of domaines: Long-Depaquit in Chablis, Clos Frantin for the Côte de Nuits, du Pavillon for the Côte de Beaune and Domaine d’Adélie for Mercurey. Wines with one or other of these denominations will be from their own vineyards, while wines just bearing the name Albert Bichot will be from purchased grapes.

The company has separate vinification centres in Chablis, Pommard, Nuits-St-Georges and Beaune itself. Lupé-Cholet is an associated marque. Christophe Chavel has been looking after the vineyards since 2000, ensuring that they are all ploughed and no fertilisers are used. Alain Serveau, originally from a domaine in Morey-St-Denis, is technical director. Fermentation takes place in wooden vats of varying sizes depending on the specific plot of vines in question, using natural yeasts. Maturation is in oak barrels without too much new wood: 20 to 30 per cent for village wines, from 50 to 100 per cent forgrands crus.

Bichot is now a serious player with some excellent red wines which avoid showing too much of a house style, and some fine whites.

Located in the southern part of winegrowing Burgundy, Château de Varennes is located in Quincié-en-Beaujolais, north of Lyon. This 11th century chateau followed in the footsteps of its owners. It was modest and humble under the Villions in the 13th century, and rich and magnificent at the time of the Lords of Beaujeu in the 14th century. After that followed a succession of various owners. Since 1809, members of the Charveriat family have owned and operated the Château de Varennes estate.

As elsewhere in the Beaujolais, the Gamay grape is king here, capable of subtle expressions when planted in top-quality siliceous and granitic terroirs. The vines are planted in granitic soil on the south-facing slopes around the chateau. Such conditions are optimal for encouraging the ripening of the Gamay grape and its characteristic expression of red fruit.

Fresh, fine nose with floral (violet, peony) and fruity (raspberry, blackcurrant) notes. The palate is fresh, fleshy and delectable with notes of ripe fruit. Refreshing finish with fruit continuing to dominate.