Château du Basty

Superb wine with a rich history

TEXT: DEBORAH CICUREL | PHOTOS © CHÂTEAU DU BASTY

Many vineyards have rich and varied histories, but not many have the long legacy of Château du Basty. The 44-acre estate, situated in an idyllic location on the east and south facing slopes of the Saône Valley in the Beaujolais region of southern Burgundy, is currently celebrating its 537th year.

Quentin Perroud, the manager at Château du Basty, is the 17th generation to run the property and its vineyards. The excellent wines created at the chateau have won multiple awards: the vineyard is divided between AOC Beaujolais Lantignie Red, Rosé, White, AOC Morgon, and AOC Régnié.

“In 1482, my ancestors bought a few acres of vineyards at a place called the Billy,” says Perroud. “From our first small barrels delivered to Paris and the first bottles made in the domaine and throughout our history, Château du Basty has never stopped evolving.”

The chateau’s distinctive wines are, as with all wines, closely related to the idiosyncrasies of the soil. The granite and occasionally gravelly or sandy subsoil combines Gamay grapes to make for fruity, spicy wines typical of Beaujolais. White wines, meanwhile, are crisp and perfumed thanks to the same granite soil and Chardonnay grapes.

“What we want to do,” says Perroud, “is offer wines that are not just elegant, but that create an emotional experience for those enjoying them”.

Despite the chateau’s many years of expertise in producing quality wines, the effort to create an excellent product has never ceased, with painstaking work taking place, from harvesting by hand to careful maturing in oak casks, taking into account climates, plots and grapes to create the very best wine possible.

“We take time producing our wines and refining the taste,” explains Quentin. “Despite our long history, we are always asking new questions and creating new vintages. The work of nature, for us, is a perpetual quest.”

The chateau also places a high importance on community, ecology and organic farming, making sure that respect is paid to the environment when cultivating grapes and when creating their wide variety of wines. They also believe strongly in working collectively with the wider community of local young winemakers in Lantignie to use environmentallyfriendly methods throughout the process.

Visits and on-site wine tastings can be made by prior reservation.

BEAUJOLAIS LANTIGNIÉ

– 889.5 acres
– Granite and gravel subsoil
– A team of 15 young winemakers
– A growth cycle based on eco-friendly agriculture

chateaudubasty.com