2023 Chateau Cambon - Beaujolais (750ml)

Château Cambon began as a joint venture between two giants of natural Beaujolais, Marcel Lapierre and Joseph Chamonard, both members of the movement started by researcher Jules Chauvet in the 1950s alongside fellow vignerons Guy Breton and Jean-Paul Thévenet. Marcel Lapierre passed away at the close of the 2010 harvest, and today his son Mathieu, wife Marie, and daughters Camille and Anne continue the estate's biodynamic, low-intervention philosophy.

Cambon's fruit comes from a single parcel first planted in 1914 in Saint-Jean-d'Ardières, on a mix of granite and chalky clay that sits just east of Brouilly and beside Morgon. Because the vineyard falls outside the boundaries of either delimited cru, the wine can only be labeled simple Beaujolais, despite a pedigree that has earned it a reputation as a kind of cru in disguise, sometimes nicknamed a baby Morgon. The grapes undergo a traditional semi-carbonic maceration lasting ten to twenty days with spontaneous fermentation in stainless steel, followed by nine months of aging in used oak barrels.

The 2023 pours a vivid crimson-purple, with aromas of cherry, cassis, and strawberry layered over earthy, savory undertones. The palate is fresh and juicy, with silky tannins and lively acidity carrying through to a refreshing, fruit-driven finish. Pair it with roast turkey, grilled salmon, or a charcuterie board.