Gamay
Biodynamic, Sustainable, Vegan-Friendly, Volcanic
Dry
Medium Bodied
750ml
13% alc./vol

Stéphane Aviron Saint-Amour AOP 2019

Beaujolais, France

92 points - Wine Align

$26.95per bottle ($323.40per case)
12 bottles per case

Fruit-forward & Structured

Stéphane Aviron can be considered a pioneer is his approach to winemaking in Beaujolais, however he would just tell you that he’s simply returning to the traditional practices that have always made fantastic Gamay wines. Sustainable viticulture, extremely old vines and classic Burgundian techniques.

The Saint-Amour cru is in the northern part of the Cru Beaujolais area, not far from the Maconnais where Chardonnay is grown. The terroir here starts to shift and become more similar to the soils of Burgundy, still with granite soils, but clay and limestone start to be present in Saint-Amour soils as well.

The wines are high alcohol, but still very good balance between acidity and alcohol, creating harmonious wines. All the conditions for a great wine were met, resulting in a legendary vintage for Beaujolais. Saint-Amour makes a fine wine that is easy to drink and it soft, but still fruit-forward. These soils with clay are limestone create the heavier style of Saint-Amour with a darker color, more alcohol and coarser in style.

Compared to the elegant, fine Fleurie, the Stéphane Aviron’s Saint-Amour is structured and firm, but still with soft, red fruit.

About the Winery

Stéphane Aviron

Stéphane Aviron can be considered a pioneer in his approach to winemaking in Beaujolais, however he would just tell you that he’s simply returning to the traditional practices that have always made fantastic Gamay wines. Sustainable viticulture, extremely old vines and classic Burgundian techniques. He focuses on the Beaujolais village crus, all but forgotten gems of vineyards when the nouveau craze took over, which are the best sites for unique, expressive and terroir driven wines. All of the fruit is sourced from old vines (40+ years), so seeing Vieilles Vignes on the label is a rite of passage, not a privilege. Authenticity and a distinctly Beaujolais style of winemaking is what sets Stéphane apart from the rest.

Press Reviews

Wine Align

92 points - David Lawrason

The northernmost cru of Beaujolais sits on soils that cross between granite and limestone, so I always find St. Amour more lifted, fragrant and elegant. Lovely fragrance here with lilac, cherry/cranberry, fine white pepper and some minerality. It is so refined and elegant across the palate, with fine zipper-like seam of tannin. The length focus and length are excellent. Tasted March 2021.

92 points - Michael Godel

The third of six old vines wines in the Aviron Cru Beaujolais series. Julienas is northerly but the smallest cru of Saint-Amour sits the furthest north and most of the vines are in the Saône et Loire Department. Always a romantic notion both in nomenclature and by style, a fresh, floral and piqued gamay, here open for early business. Crunchy dark red fruit, a bit liquid chalky and coming through with the sort of red citrus that imagines lingonberry and pomegranate. Should work really well with a stack of pancakes next Valentine’s Day. Drink 2021-2024. Tasted March 2021.

91 points - Sara d'Amato

Fleshy, plummy and lightly peppery with stylishly reductive character. More powerful than expected with excellent depth of flavour. Well-structured although very drinkable at present. Seductive and persistent. Tasted March 2021.

90 points - John Szabo

Sweet candied red fruit, leafy-stemmy notes, and fresh oyster liquor put this Beaujolais firmly in the stony-granite side of the spectrum for the region. The texture is equally dusty-gritty, supported by incisive acids, while length and depth are very good, finishing with a vague a sensation of sweetness from ripe fruit. Classic, firm and food-friendly red. Drink with a light chill, after 2022. Tasted March 2021.