Chignard 2023 Juliénas "Beauvernay"

This is a lovely Beaujolais from the Chignard family, better known for their Fleurie "Les Moriers." As with much of Juliénas the bedrock of "Beauvernay" is diorite, rather than granite, locally called "roches bleues." It's an interesting terroir of volcanic origin with more clay and rich in magnesium, giving complex well-structured wines. The Chignard parcel is a high-altitude, steep south-facing hill with 50 year-old vines. Possessing the ripe fruit and dense palate of the 2023 vintage in Beaujolais, the Julienas "Beauvernay" shows a pretty red/black color, with elegant, a bit restrained aromas of black raspberry and  black cherry with violet, blood orange, earth and stone, which should open up nicely over the next few years. It's ripe and sapid but with lively acidity and well proportioned. Tart cherry, plum and red currant fruit with saline minerals, earth and spice coat the palate and continue in the earthy finish. Quite lovely now, especially with a long decant,  this should soften and gain complexity with three to five years of aging, drink till 2032.