Structure

Bodymedium
Tanninfirm
Acidityhigh
Sweetnessdry
Finishlong
Oakbarrel aged

Drinking window

Best 3 to 10 years from vintage.
vintage3 yrs10 yrs12 yrs

Critic scores

No critic score is published for this bottle that we can cite with a reviewer, a vintage and a review year, so none is shown. The rating in the header is our own.

In the glass

Medium-bodiedFirm tanninHigh acidityDryLong finish

What it pairs with

  • Joues de boeuf braisées
    The wine's firm tannin and mineral structure hold up to long-braised beef cheeks.
  • Pintade au chou farci
    Spiced earth and dark fruit complement cabbage-stuffed guinea fowl.
  • Bleu d'Auvergne
    Blue cheese salt and creaminess contrast with the wine's iron-mineral grip.

How to serve Beaujolais-Villages Esprit d'Une Vie

Allow 65 minutes from open to pour.

  1. Open and decant. Open 60 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
  2. Serve at 14-16°C. Cellar temperature (14-16°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
  3. Glassware. Use a Burgundy bowl with a wide opening: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
  4. Pair with. Joues de boeuf braisées, Pintade au chou farci, Bleu d'Auvergne. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.

History

Esprit d'Une Vie ('spirit of a life') is Karim Vionnet's personal top Beaujolais-Villages cuvée, drawing from his oldest parcels and given extended barrel ageing to demonstrate the Villages appellation's overlooked depth.

  1. 2010: Esprit d'Une Vie first released as Vionnet's prestige Villages cuvée

Facts

Producer
Domaine Karim Vionnet · visiting guide
Grapes
Gamay
Classification
Beaujolais-Villages AOC
Oak
Old Burgundy barrels 10-12 months
ABV
13.0%
Price
€18-26 at retail
Drinking window
3-10 from vintage
First vintage
2010
Organic
ORGANIC CERTIFIED

Frequently asked about Beaujolais-Villages Esprit d'Une Vie

What does Beaujolais-Villages Esprit d'Une Vie taste like?

Structurally medium-bodied, firm tannins, high acidity with a long finish. Vionnet's prestige Villages cuvée from older parcels: Morgon-influenced depth and structure, with kirsch, incense and a long iron-mineral finish that punches above appellation level.

When should I drink Beaujolais-Villages Esprit d'Une Vie?

Drink 3-10 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.

What food pairs with Beaujolais-Villages Esprit d'Une Vie?

Joues de boeuf braisées is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Pintade au chou farci and Bleu d'Auvergne. The wine's firm tannin and mineral structure hold up to long-braised beef cheeks.

What grapes are in Beaujolais-Villages Esprit d'Une Vie?

The blend is Gamay. The wine is classified as Beaujolais-Villages AOC.

Tags

dry firm tannin gamay hidden gem high acid medium body medium term mood contemplative mood elegant occasion cellar occasion special old vines old world organic pairs with aged cheese pairs with game pairs with red meat price trade up still red

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