Stephane Aviron Chenas Vieilles Vignes 2022

Made from insanely old, pre-phylloxera vines averaging 100+ years old, ranging in plantation from 1900 to 1923. Stéphane Aviron has been producing wines from this incredible 13.6-acre parcel since 1993. The soil is light and made up mostly of sand and small pebbles over a layer of clay and quartz. The old vines, ancient soils and organic/biodynamic farming combine for incredibly low yields and highly concentrated grapes. 

He vinifies this beautiful Chénas using traditional methods and whole bunches.. The must is macerated for seven days in temperature controlled stainless steel vats. The wine is then aged for 12 months in cement tank to maintain to purity of the fruit. The result is a red wine full of red fruits, mint, red licorice and flowers flitting around the palate. Aviron, who hails from the Beaujolais region, is a bonafide specialist. And if you love elegant Pinot Noir, we implore you to try his beautiful wines that offer complexity, elegance, deliciousness and value. 

Winemaker/owner Stéphane Aviron produces traditional, terroir-driven, distinctive wines from all of the important cru's. His family has hailed from the Beaujolais region for many generations, and winegrowing is clearly in his blood. We have enjoyed this wine many times at home, with friends and family. The 2022 vintage of Chénas is the BEST we have ever tasted!

Stéphane Aviron has adopted an almost radical return to tradition in Beaujolais: organic viticulture, extremely old vines and classic Burgundian techniques. His cru Beaujolais drink like fine Burgundy. Historically considered “poor man’s Burgundy,” a modern movement toward fruity, simple, quaffing wines boosted sales but eroded the region’s traditional quality. Stéphane Aviron has reversed the trend. By focusing on the Beaujolais village crus, the best sites for unique, expressive wines, and finding old parcels of vines, Aviron creates very expressive, age-worthy wines relying on traditional and new methods, including organic and biodynamic vineyard management. All wines are labeled “Vieilles Vignes,” old vines, because the vines are at least 40 years old. Stéphane Aviron’s wines are authentic in every way.