Domaine de Colette, Regnié, Beaujolais, France, 2025

Product code: 1546

Producer Profile

Domaine de Colette is located in the heart of the Crus du Beaujolais, in the charming village of Lantignié – regarded by many as the premium village in the cru of Regnié.

Run by the humble Jacky Gauthier, it was founded by his father René. Jacky studied oenology at the tender age of 17 and immediately started working with his father in the vineyards. Today he is joined by his son Pierre-Alexandre, whose invigorating youthful enthusiasm has seen a further move to full organic practices and adoption of France’s new sustainability certification in line with the family’s philosophy of ‘terroir is their true wealth’. The vineyards are home to vines averaging 45 years of age, but one plot, called Colette, averages over 80 years. For visitors, the views from the cellar and reception room are nothing short of exceptional, extending across the rolling Beaujolais vineyards and the Saône Valley to the Alps, where Mont Blanc is visible on a clear day.

Viticulture

Concerned about the preservation of their terroirs, which they consider to be their true wealth, they have been practicing sustainable agriculture for many years and have been pioneers of permanent grass and the ban on chemical fertilisers in their vineyards. Pierre-Alexandre quickly adopted the practices established by High Environmental Value, a stricter practice than Integrated Pest Management, reaching level 3 HVE, and started work towards a complete conversion to organic farming. The soils are granite and the vines grown in the bush are on average 45 years old. The harvest is carried out by hand with yields never exceeding 45 hl per ha.

Winemaking

After an exclusively manual harvest that ensures that each bunch is kept whole, they systematically sort the grapes on a sorting table before being placed in vats. Vinified according to the classic Beaujolais technique using whole bunches of grapes (without crushing or de-stemming), this allows them to obtain the aromas and flavours typical of the region. Depending on the appellation, the vatting times vary from 7 to 15 days, and the fermentation temperatures are carefully controlled. After careful pressing (using a pneumatic press), the wines finish their alcoholic fermentation in the vats where they will spend the winter to stabilise naturally.

Tasting Note

A captivating deep ruby red, this wine entices with a fresh, aromatic nose and an abundance of juicy red-fruit character. Elegant and vibrant on the palate, its supple tannins are seamlessly integrated, lending finesse without overpowering. Perfectly balanced acidity keeps each sip lively and refreshing, making it an irresistibly bright and flavoursome choice for any occasion.