Domaine de la Pirolette Saint-Amour AOC

Description

Domaine de la Pirolette Saint-Amour AOC is a red wine from the Beaujolais wine-growing appellation. Saint-Amour is one of the ten “Crus” of Beaujolais. It is the northernmost of the Beaujolais Crus situated just south of the Mâconnais region in Burgundy.

Domaine de la Pirolette is located in the heart of the Saint-Amour AOC and sits at the top of the hill facing the village church. The origins of the estate date back to the 1600s but since 2013 it has been owned by the Famille Barbet alongside fifteen co-owners, led by 9th generation winegrower, Grégory Barbet and his sisters. The Barbet family also owns Domaine de la Terriere in Brouilly.

Domaine de la Pirolette Vineyards

The domain is one of the largest estates in the AOC composed of 15 hectares of vineyards grouped around the property. They enjoy a wide diversity of terroirs, mainly with stony soil composed of sandstone, blue stone, clay and granite sand. The estate’s top plots are “Le Carjot”, “La Poulette” and “La Pirolette” which are vinified and bottled separately.

Winemaking

The 100% Gamay grapes for the Domaine de la Pirolette Saint-Amour are vinified in whole clusters or destemmed in cement vats depending on the plot. The winemaking technique involves the use of the “chapeau grillé” or”grate hat”, an old winemaking technique whereby a wooden grate keeps the “cap” submerged whilst pumping over and dumping is still possible. This gentle extraction helps provide structure whilst retaining the elegance of the terroir.

Valentine’s Day Wine?

For obvious reasons, there is always an uptick in sales of Saint-Amour wines around Valentine’s Day however, the name is thought to derive from a Roman soldier named Amateur (or Amor). Local legend has it that he fled massacres in the Swiss Valais region and sought refuge in France. He is said to have founded a monastery in the area, which eventually led to the naming of the commune and, subsequently, the StAmour AOC.