Domaine Saint-Cyr

Raphaël Saint-Cyr, authenticity and love of terroir!

A 23-hectare family estate, now run by Raphaël Saint-Cyr, who took over from his father Thierry. Natural Beaujolais wines of undeniable juiciness, authentic wines from the Beaujolais, Chénas, Moulin-à-Vent and Morgon appellations. A guaranteed treat!

A family estate since 1949

In 1949, Pierre Saint-Cyr settled in Anse, in the heart of the Pierres Dorées ("golden stones") country near Villefranche-sur-Saône, where he supported his family with mixed farming: cows, pigs, draught horses, fruit trees and vines.
Little by little, mixed farming gave way to vines and wine. In 1963, Pierre's son Michel took over the Domaine de Bellevue on the heights of Anse. In 1983, Michel was joined by his son Thierry, while their wives Jacqueline and Laurence helped develop direct sales. Already then, the estate practised sustainable farming to respect the environment.
In 2008, Thierry's son Raphaël joined the family estate. A dynamic, ambitious winegrower, he represents the fourth generation. The vines were immediately converted to organic farming, soon followed by biodynamic practices, always to respect the environment as much as possible.
Raphaël's wife Karine joined in 2012. Thanks to the quality of their biodynamic wines, they won over wine shops, restaurants and professionals in France and abroad.
To work even closer to nature, ploughing with draught horses has returned to most of the estate.

Towards biodynamics in Beaujolais

With 23 hectares of vines across the Beaujolais, Morgon, Chénas and Moulin-à-Vent appellations, Domaine Saint-Cyr has been organic since 2008. Respect for the soil, the vines and the environment is at the heart of its thinking. While Thierry already practised sustainable farming from 1983, Raphaël chose biodynamics to go even further. He wants to showcase the Beaujolais terroir and Gamay with authentic, free wines.
The estate works two main terroirs. The first, in southern Beaujolais around the estate, is clay-limestone, with the famous iron-rich "Pierres Dorées" that give the area its name. The second, in the north on the Crus, is made of older granite soils.
Most of the estate is ploughed with draught horses to protect the soil, reduce the carbon footprint and keep the vines healthy. The wines are made with native yeasts, unfiltered, with no additives and minimal sulphites. Racking and bottling by the lunar calendar, horn manure, silica and plant macerations complete these biodynamic practices, essential to the wines' authenticity.

Living wines from a family estate!

Like the winegrower himself, the cuvées of Domaine Saint-Cyr are pure and precise. All the wines are made naturally with no additives, using Beaujolais-style carbonic maceration lasting twelve to twenty-five days depending on the terroir. Raphaël champions Gamay, the king of Beaujolais, as well as Chardonnay and Aligoté.
Among the reds, La Galoche is the estate's classic Beaujolais, 100% Gamay, fresh and juicy with red and black fruit. French Kiss is Raphaël's Beaujolais Nouveau: an easy-drinking primeur bursting with fruit, back every autumn, also in magnum and jeroboam! On the crus, the Chénas Les Blémonts, Les Journets and Robert show all the finesse of Gamay, with fine tannins and a touch of Pinot Noir. The Morgon Les Charmes, a single plot partly aged in old barrels, is elegant and lightly spiced, while the Moulin-à-Vent La Bruyère has the appellation's typical "Burgundian" profile, concentrated and spicy. One of a kind, Mélo blends Gamay, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay harvested, pressed and fermented together, like a mille-feuille: a perfect balance of fruit, acidity and concentration!
For the whites, the clay-limestone soils of Anse and Lachassagne are ideal for Chardonnay. Alien is a 100% Aligoté full of freshness, minerality and tension. La Galoche blanc, a Chardonnay aged in stainless steel, is juicy and lively. Terroir de Lachassagne, from vines over 70 years old aged 24 months in old barrels with no added sulphur, is a great white, intense, fine and fresh, with Burgundian accents. Also worth discovering: Terroir de Bellevue, named after the family estate on the heights of Anse.
Pure, living, authentic wines that reflect the terroirs of Beaujolais, made by a committed, dynamic winegrower. Discover them on Epi-curieux.com.