Antoine Sunier Régnié 2023

Antoine Sunier is a young grower who left a career in engineering to make wine, setting up in the village of Régnié in 2014 with help from his brother Julien. Régnié is one of the ten Beaujolais crus, its pink granite and sandy soils giving Gamay a lighter, more perfumed style than the heavier crus to the south. The vineyards are farmed organically and the wine is made naturally, with minimal intervention. Beaujolais is traditionally made by carbonic or semi carbonic maceration, fermenting whole bunches in a carbon dioxide rich tank so that fermentation begins inside the intact berries, a method that emphasises bright, juicy red fruit and a floral aroma while keeping tannins soft. The wine then ages in barrel, the wood adding only a light frame to the fresh fruit. It pours a bright, vivid ruby and shows raspberry, red cherry and a touch of plum, lifted by violet, white flowers and a peppery edge, with a stony, granitic freshness underneath. The palate is light and energetic, with crisp acidity and supple tannins. Serve cool, at 13 to 14 degrees. It suits charcuterie, roast poultry and pork.