Longère Beaujolais Villages En Verchères
WHY WE LOVE IT
- En Verchères means “beautiful land” and the Beaujolais Villages En Verchères Chardonnay is named after the plot in which it’s grown.
- The vines are 35 years-old, have a south exposure and are grown on a vein of blue stone on the slopes of Clochemerle.
- Enjoy now or let evolve over three years.
- Suggested serving temperature of 8-10°C or 46-50°F.
Varietal Composition: 100% Chardonnay
Elaboration: Manual harvest and sorting. Alcoholic fermentation at low temperature and over time (10 months). Aging 15% new barrels (soft toast) and 85% stainless steel vats on fine lees. Bottling at the Domaine.
Tasting Notes: Brilliant robe, slightly golden. Expressive and complex nose of small white flowers, pear, and hazelnut. After aeration, discreet woody notes. Fresh attach followed by a nice vinous character.
PRESS
2020 – 90 Wine Advocate
2021 – 90 Vinous
PRODUCER BACKGROUND
Domaine Longère is situated in the beautiful region of Beaujolais, south of Burgundy. The estate is split almost evenly between the adjacent villages of Perréon and Vaux-en-Beaujolais. Vaux-en-Beaujolais was the inspiration for the fictional town of Clochemerle in the 1934 satirical novel “Clochemerle” by Gabriel Chevallier. The region within the Beaujolais Villages appellation has been referred to as “Little Tuscany.”
Jean Luc Longère was born and raised in the heart of Beaujolais at Vaux en Beaujolais and is the sixth generation of vintners in his family on his mother’s side. Longere translates to ‘piece of fabric’ and honors his father’s family who were weavers. He took over the estate and its historic 1845 house in 1988 and operates it with his wife, Régine, and their daughter Lisa.
He considers himself a “wine artisan” and is the first in his family to sell wine directly to consumers from his manageable five-hectare estate. “I chose to keep the domaine small,” he says.