Domaine Bel Avenir
2011 Saint-Amour Laura
Not your normal Beaujolais — this is a serious Gamay that has taken months to vinify, and it has gravitas and style! With its name and easy appeal, we find it a great wine to share over Valentine’s Day.
Bright, and fruity with citrus notes, scents of red berries, and a hint of banana for an immediately appealing nose that rises up from the glass. The bright nose doesn’t quite prepare you for the intense, concentrated fruit on the palate; this is more serious wine than it may seem at first, with layers of fruit balanced by brisk acidity and light tannins on an extended finish. Has both presence and poise. Very tasty now, but likely to improve through 2016—perhaps longer. Delicious. An exceptionally good example of this appellation. An exceptional value.
Food pairing: Picnics, chicken dishes, pasta—or more serious fare, such as beef ribs, duck, or lamb
The Creator of This Wine
Domaine Bel Avenir
‘Bel Avenir’, French for ‘bright future’, perfectly embodies the high aspirations of this Beaujolais domaine, which in a short time period has acquired land in some of the best Beaujolais appellations. Combining diligence, ambition and an inclination for wines with strong body, third-generation owner Alain Dardanelli and his wife Cécile create Cru Beaujolais wines with remarkable complexity and personality.
Click on the picture to learn more.
| Producer: | Domaine Bel Avenir |
| Region: | Beaujolais |
| Year: | 2011 |
| Maturity: | 2014-2016 |
| Alcohol: | 13% |
| Bottle size: | 750ml |
| Color: | Red |
| Varietal: | Gamay |
| Flavors: | Cherry, Raspberry, Earth |
| Body: | Medium |
| Soul: | Vibrant |
