Profile of Château de la Chaize
Descended from a long line of nobility dating back several centuries, the current owner, Marquise de Roussy de Sales, has completely transformed the fortunes and reputation of this majestic Château. It remains the Beaujolais region’s most beautiful estate; with a fairytale-like appearance and magical gardens, it is little wonder that the French Ministry of Culture awarded Château de la Chaize the status of “Monuments Historiques,” in 1972. It also boasts the region’s longest vaulted cellar, which is a monument in itself with its original framework and Roman-tiled roof. But today, the property is renowned for both its beauty and the quality of its wines, which show a unique minerality and gorgeous sour cherry and black fruit character.
Château de la Chaize has a long and distinguished history that dates back to the 17th century. The original estate was founded by a French army captain, François de La Chaize d’Aix, who purchased the property from an aristocratic family in 1667. Sadly, a few years after acquiring the Château, it collapsed, killing his two sons and leaving François without any heirs. Nonetheless, the captain did commission a new Château, constructed in 1674, and is the building we know as Château de la Chaize today. However, the magnificent cellar and winery weren’t built until the late 18th century, finally completed in 1810. After Francois’s death, de la Chaize passed to the Count de Montaigu, who was an ambassador of King Louis XV in Venice. Such a fortuitous relationship helped to spread the renown of Beaujolais and the wines of Château de la Chaize, which were held in great esteem throughout Europe. Eventually, the estate came under the Marquise de Roussy de Sales’s control, who has remained the sole owner since 1967.
The Marquise inherited a grand yet dilapidated Château, and therefore soon initiated a major restoration program for the buildings and gardens. Much effort – and money – was also put into improving viticulture and the estate’s vineyards’ quality. But the investment has clearly paid off; today, winemakers Antoine Lohier and Franck Manigand consistently produce benchmark Brouilly from over 90 ha of superior vineyards. The regular bottling is always reliably excellent, offering breadth and depth combined with early drinkability. The Vieilles Vignes offers more complexity, refinement, and density, but it is the special cuvee, the Reserve de La Marquise, that we really love. Made from old vines planted in an exceptional terroir, the wine is remarkable: fleshy, structured with a fine minerality and depth of flavor. Top vintages will last for over a decade. Indeed, there is never any rush to drink the wines of Château de la Chaize.
Wines produced
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Château de la Chaize Brouilly
100% Gamay. Fermented in thermo-regulated stainless-steel tanks, the wine is then aged in foudres (large oak barrels) for a period of 6-8 months, depending on the vintage and wine.
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Château de la Chaize Brouilly Cuvee Vieilles Vignes
100% Gamay. A special cuvee produced from old vines, the wine is fermented in thermo-regulated stainless-steel tanks. It is then aged in foudres (large oak barrels) for a period of 6-8 months, depending on the vintage and wine.
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Château de la Chaize Reserve de La Marquise
100% Gamay. The prestige cuvee of the property, produced from the finest vineyards in the appellation. The wine is fermented in thermo-regulated stainless-steel tanks. It is then aged in new French oak for a period of 6-8 months, depending on the vintage and wine. Suitable for extended cellaring after release.
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Château de la Chaize rose
100% Gamay. The rosé is produced using the saignee method, running off lightly macerated grape juice from the tanks. A fresh, fruity rose for early drinking.
Winery details
- Appellation
- AOC Brouilly
- Founded
- 1674
- Area under vine
- 99 Hectares
- Age of vines
- 30 years+ Low yields
- Oak barrel origin
- French
- Winemaker
- Antoine Lohier and Franck Manigand
- Owner
- Marquise de Roussy de Sales
- Production
- Approximately 350,000 bottles, depending on the vintage
- Grape varietals
- Gamay