The Wines
For complete tasting notes on all recent vintages, please click here
The classic grape of the Beaujolais is Gamay, from which all the red wines are made. There are 12 villages in the Beaujolais hills which are entitled to use their name in the wine label, and their wines are fuller and richer, with greater longevity.
As well as the excellent Beaujolais red produced from vines at the Chateau, Pizay has vineyards in Morgon, on the slopes of Mont Py, considered one of the most important styles of Morgon, and, since 1998, the estate of Chateau St Lager in Brouilly, dating back to 1432.
Beaujolais wines are renowned for the distinctive Gamay characteristics of youthfull, fruity, easy drinking red wines. If your only experience is of the, shall we say, questionable Beaujolais Nouveau, you may be quite amazed by the quality of serious wine from the region.
At Pizay the Gamay grapes are planted on 26 hectares of south facing land, and the wine produced is perfect for drinking young with salads, charcuterie, and white meats. The Pizay wines from Morgon and Brouilly go much further, with a richness, body, and finesse that makes them suitable for keeping for several years.
A little known treasure of the area is its white wine. Beaujolais' northern neighbour, Burgundy, of course produces some of the world's finest white wines, but few people know that the great Chardonnay grape also grows well in Beaujolais. The Burgundy growers would like you not to know.
Less than 1% of the region is planted with Chardonnay, but the results are superb. At Chateau de Pizay the average age of the Chardonnay vines is 28 years, concentrated on just 4 hectares. The result is a full flavoured but delicate, soft white wine with hints of acacia and vanilla, ideal with fish or white meat dishes with a creamy sauce.
At Chateau de Pizay, Pascal is happy for all the wines to be drunk young, as befits the style, but knowing that he is producing wines with rich flavour and elegance, as demonstrated by his many awards from the wine competitions in Macon, in his illustrious (and expensive) neighbour Burgundy.
