Domaine Chamonard

The Beaujolais region, and particularly Morgon, has been at the centre of a trend since the 1980s and 1990s towards a return to healthy winegrowing practices: no weedkillers or chemicals in the vineyards, no chaptalisation, carbonic maceration vinification with indigenous yeasts, no or very low doses of added sulphur. In the wake of the work of Jules Chauvet, relayed by Jacques Néauport, a group of winegrowers, led by Marcel Lapierre, Jean-Claude Chanudet (Domaine Chamonard), Jean Foillard and a few others, initiated the development of what was soon to be called "natural" wines.

Joseph Chamonard's estate - farmed in the traditional way without interruption, i.e. without weedkillers or chemical products - passed in 1989 into the hands of his daughter Geneviève and her son-in-law Jean-Claude Chanudet, for whom Marcel Lapierre was a fraternal companion. The 5.5 hectare vineyard is now made up of numerous small plots of mostly old vines, spread over the Morgon cru (Les Chênes, Corcelette and others) and a small part of the Fleurie cru (La Madone). With an unchanged work philosophy, the wines have retained the purity and finesse characteristic of the Chamonard estate, but also their remarkable aptitude for ageing, and they have found a place of choice in the natural wine movement. An artisanal, discreet estate, respected for the frankness and precision of its wines.