2020 Saint Cyr Gamay Pet Nat

Beaujolais, France

Raphael Saint-Cyr is the fourth-generation vigneron at the Domaine Sant-Cyr. His great grandfather, Pierre Saint-Cyr founded the estate. Saint-Cyr is on the southern edge of Beaujolais in a town called Anse. Having seen his grandfather and uncle get sick from the chemicals used to treat their vines, Raphael let go of a large portion of Beaujolais vines and converted the 23-hectare Domaine to organic. Saint Cyr is one of the largest organic domains in the Beaujolais. In 2017, Raphael began experimenting with cold carbonic fermentation and shorter aging for a cru Beaujolais with the single-vineyard Chenas Les Journets. His experimentation was successful and now all his red wines are made using cold carbonic fermentation.

There has been an increase in the consumption and interest in Pét Nat’s in the last couple of years. Pét Nat is an abbreviation for “Pétillant Naturel”. This loosely translates to “naturally sparkling”. Pét Nat is a wine made according to the ancestral method, developed in the 16th century, making this the oldest form of sparkling wine. Ancestral method means that the fermented juice is bottled while it is still fermenting (the yeast is still eating the grape sugars in the juice). The final product is a bottle while fermentation continues, trapping CO2 (which is given off by the yeast) creating a wine with bubbles! Pét Nat is also made without and additives or winemaking aids.

This wine is a staff favourite for all of us here at the shop. It pours a lovely light pink colour with foamy mousse. This wine is fruit driven with strawberry, rhubarb, raspberries and cotton candy on the nose. It tastes like strawberries and cream, cotton candy, a hint of saline and some residual sugar. The ABV comes in at 11.5%. Try pairing this sparkling Gamay with brunch, spicy dishes, grilled shrimp, creamy cheeses or Thanksgiving dinner!

$35.95