Chateau Béru in Chablis
Posted On June 9, 2011 at 7:22 pm in Burgundy
Since the 1600′s the Béru family have made their home in this small village which is a ten minute drive from Chablis. After the phloxera louse wiped out the walled vineyards surrounding the chateau in the 19th century, wheat was grown in its place. Vines were not replanted until 1987.
Athénäis de Beru took over winemaking in 2004 after studying viticulture and oenology in Beaune. She runs the estate along with her mother. Grapes are hand harvested and yields are restricted. The vineyards are certified organic and Athénäis is looking to move to a biodynamic certification in the near future. Chateau Béru has one of two remaining moon-dials in Europe. Given biodynamic belief in timing treatments and cellar work to the lunar cycles the moon-dail may again become part of daily life at the chateau.
The Premier Cru Vaucoupin is aged in 1/3 new oak while the Clos Béru Monopole and village Chablis wines remain in stainless steel tanks. I found each of the wines to have the classic freshness and steely acidity that you expect from Chablis while maintaining a good intensity of citrus flavors.
The restored moondial at Chateau Beru
Athenais de Béru in the clos vineyards
renovation work is continuing at the chateau
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