Place: Chenas - Beaujolais, FRA

Variety: Gamay

Farming: Organic

Born in Lyon to Arabic parents, Karim was adopted by a family in Morgon.  His first career was a baker but eventually fell into wine, as one does in this region, and got the natural wine bug by working as a vineyard-hand and winemaker for some of the OG natty wine dudes like Guy Breton and Marcel Lapierre. Technically a negociant (like many of our producers who don't own any vineyards) Karim is responsible for the organic farming and vinification of 5 hectares of plots around Beaujolais, mostly old-ish vines.

The "Chenas" by Karim Vionnet is a red wine made from gamay grapes from the homonymous village located in the northern part of Beaujolais. It refines for 12 months between cement and fiberglass and expresses a broad and sumptuous bouquet, with aromas of raspberries, black cherries, rhubarb and lilac flowers, framed by a spiciness of cocoa and coffee. On the palate it is rich and vibrant, with a persistent mineral savouriness