Joseph Drouhin St. Amour (Beaujolais) 1999

The loveliest wine name of Beaujolais (some will even say of France) is certainly Saint-Amour, at the northern end of the Beaujolais Hills. Here, the vines, pruned very short in the gobelet shape, climb the steep slopes of pink granite. At harvest time, the grapes are always hand-picked to avoid bruising. The alcoholic fermentation takes 8 to 10 days and involves such traditional methods as punching down the cap and pumping over the juice. During the Winter, the malolactic fermentation further reduces the acidity level. But the wine still needs 7 to 8 months of ageing for the lees to be eliminated and the wine completely ready. Saint-Amour has the most beautiful purple colour. A profound aroma of violet and musk is very distinctive. Round and supple, the wine ends on a long, fruity aftertaste. Served slightly cool, Saint-Amour is a very versatile wine: it can be served in any season of the year, at the beginning of a meal, as well as at the end. Its friendly nature makes it the favourite of the bistros and wine lovers around the world.