This mouthwatering crowd-pleaser is named after a grove of cherry trees that flank the vineyard. The fruit comes from 40-year-old Gamay vines, grown in dark granite soils around the Chermette homestead in Saint-Vérand, Southern Beaujolais. In contrast to their age-worthy Crus from Moulin-à-Vent and Fleurie et al., Chermette aims to produce something light-to-medium-bodied, bright and cherry-fruited with reach-for-another-glass charm.

The winemaking has remained unchanged for decades. Traditional whole-bunch, semi-carbonic fermentation in concrete tanks followed by maturation in tank and old oak casks are still the order of the day. Twenty-twenty four was a cooler year in Beaujolais, gifting, at this level, a thirst-quenching and moreish Gamay with loads of crunch, blueberry and strawberry charm and cherrystone tang. As always, it is a delicious, vibrant wine and fabulous value.

Martine Chermette’s grandmother was born and grew up among the vines at Pierreux, just outside the small hamlet of Odenas. As Martine puts it: “For sentimental reasons [we] couldn’t resist buying this little plot of vines at the foot of Mont Brouilly.” Chermette tends just 1.5 hectares of vines here, with 60-year-old roots delving deep into the eroded granite and bluestone that has been washed down from the mountain over millennia. The name Pierreux comes from the word pierres (‘stones’), illustrating the makeup of the soil.

The Brouilly is often a more brooding cuvée in the range—particularly in its early years—though 2022 is a finer and more aromatic example, with scents of wild blue fruit aromas along with pitchstone and peppery spices. The palate is juicy and fine with creamy, scented fruit cushioned by succulent acidity and elegantly chalky tannins.

The Poncié cuvée is drawn from a beautiful 4.5-hectare site of 45-year-old vines on pink granite soils. It is Chermette’s most seductive and graceful Cru bottling, especially when young. Poncié is one of a handful of celebrated highland terroirs along the ridge situated high above the village (Roche Guillon is another). The winemaking is traditional, with natural, whole-bunch ferments in large concrete vats and aging in large old foudres. 

Ripe yet compact, seamlessly silky and flooded with floral and red-fruited perfume, it's a stunning example of a wine Pierre-Marie Chermette likes to describe as “élégant et aérien”, or elegant and lifted. Poncié is one of seven vineyards in Fleurie that has recently been put forward for 1er Cru status. There could hardly be a better wine to go into bat with than Chermette’s 2022.

The Poncié cuvée is drawn from a beautiful 4.5-hectare site of 45-year-old vines on pink granite soils. It is Chermette’s most seductive and graceful Cru bottling, especially when young. Poncié is one of a handful of celebrated highland terroirs along the ridge situated high above the village (Roche Guillon is another). With good reason, it is one of seven vineyards in Fleurie that has recently been put forward for Premier Cru status. The winemaking remains traditional, with natural, whole-bunch ferments in large, concrete vats and aging in large, old foudres. Beautifully pitched, with flashes of strawberry and goji berry, it’s a fine and almost classical example of a wine Pierre-Marie Chermette likes to describe as “élégant et aérien,” elegant and lifted. 

“Starting direct but opening with an attractive perfume. Fine in the mouth, melting, a little fluid – becoming juicy—another simply excellent—wine—love it !!” Bill Nanson, Burgundy Report

The Poncié cuvée is drawn from a beautiful 4.5-hectare site of 45-year-old vines on pink granite soils. It is Chermette’s most seductive and graceful Cru bottling, especially when young. Poncié is one of a handful of celebrated highland terroirs along the ridge situated high above the village (Roche Guillon is another). With good reason, it is one of seven vineyards in Fleurie that has recently been put forward for Premier Cru status. The winemaking remains traditional, with natural, whole-bunch ferments in large, concrete vats and aging in large, old foudres. Beautifully pitched, with flashes of strawberry and goji berry, it’s a fine and almost classical example of a wine Pierre-Marie Chermette likes to describe as “élégant et aérien,” elegant and lifted.

Les Trois Roches is named for the three rocky parcels of vines from which it derives—Rochegrès, Roche Noire and Rochelle. The average age of these vines is now more than 40 years. Pierre-Marie points out that La Rochelle (which overlooks the famous windmill) brings structure, whereas the east-facing Rochegrès contributes finesse and supple tannins, and the Roche Noire grapes bring liveliness and juicy fruit. A common feature of these sites is the concentration of manganese in the soils, which delivers an unmistakable mineral thread that runs through the wine. Unlike Chermette’s other Crus, the Moulin-à-Vent undergoes a portion of barrique aging (15%), which gives you some idea of this Cru’s intense personality. Expect mineral-infused cherry skin and fresh earth sustained by supple tannins and lots of juicy, smoky grip on the finish. This should age beautifully if you can keep your hands off it.

This small-batch, organic cassis liqueur is drawn from estate-grown, Noir de Bourgogne blackcurrants. This local variety of blackcurrant is particular to the Burgundy region and is much smaller and more intensely-flavoured than the common blackcurrant. Vissoux's Crème de Cassis is handmade made from the extract of the blackcurrants that have been macerated in alcohol. It is made without preservatives or colouring and with a limited addition of sugar dissolved directly into the alcoholic juice of the blackcurrant berries at low temperature. 

Due to the intensity of the aromatics, the deep colour and concentrated flavour, you can serve this in very small quantities. Considered by some in France to be this country's finest example, if there is a better crème de cassis, we have not tasted it.