Château Bellevue

History of Château Bellevue

The Château Bellevue manor house was built in 1840 on the hill overlooking the village of Villié-Morgon. It was inhabited by several illustrious figures, including the Lumière Brothers, Auguste and Louis, inventors of the cinematograph, and Princess Lieven, née Chateaubriand. Its winemaking history, for its part, is inseparable from the Maison Jean Loron, one of the oldest and most renowned négociants in Beaujolais, which manages the estate as part of a wider portfolio of properties. The estate's winery was entirely renovated in 2009 to accommodate modern and precise single-vineyard vinification.

Tristan Larsen, cellar master with an atypical background (Sciences Po Paris in strategic management, consulting, then a switch to winemaking and studies in Beaune, internships at Domaine Comte Armand in Pommard and in New Zealand), joined Château Bellevue in 2017 and laid the foundations for a qualitative renewal. In 2022, Elodie Rousselot took over as oenological director of the estate. Trained at the Lycée Viticole de Beaune and holding an oenology degree from Dijon (with a placement at Louis Jadot), complemented by experience in Chile, Napa and the Barossa, she brought about a decisive change of style from her very first vintage in 2022: less extraction, ageing in tanks to preserve freshness, shorter macerations, 20% whole clusters. A contemporary approach that reveals the full finesse of the Morgon terroirs.

Terroirs and Vineyards of Château Bellevue

The Château Bellevue vineyard extends over 24 hectares, principally in the Morgon appellation with a plot in Fleurie. The Morgon terroirs are of remarkable diversity, which justifies the single-vineyard vinification adopted by the estate. Les Charmes: 7 hectares on the East-South-East facing slopes of the eponymous climat, light brown sandy-loamy soil over clay with large sandstone blocks, 40-year-old vines. La Côte du Py: the most renowned terroir of Morgon, on the blue schists of Mont du Py, producing wines of incomparable mineral depth. Javernières: a plot on clay-limestone soils, conferring distinctive tension and freshness. Corcelette: a terroir on clay and pink granite with the oldest vines on the estate, 70 years old, situated "closest to the château". The Fleurie Montgenas comes from a plot on the mid-slope of Mont Genas (350–360 metres altitude), on sandy soil resting on a saprolite of coarse-crystal pink granite, sheltered from prevailing winds.

The only grape variety cultivated is Gamay noir, for all red cuvées. For the Beaujolais Blanc, Chardonnay vines are planted on clay-limestone soil resting on crinoidal limestone dating back 172 million years. Viticulture on these plots is organic. The entire vineyard is managed by a team of three winegrowers (Thibaud Lemaitre, Stephen Botton, Rémi Vincent).

Winemaking at Château Bellevue

Since 2022, Elodie Rousselot has profoundly reoriented the winemaking philosophy of Château Bellevue towards greater freshness and precision. "I think that with climate change, we need to work with less extraction, and most of the wines are aged in tanks, because I want to preserve freshness." Macerations have been shortened depending on the cuvée: 10 to 12 days for Fleurie and Les Charmes, 21 days for Côte du Py and Javernières. 20% whole clusters are used for most cuvées, adding finesse and complexity. Only the Javernières and Corcelette Le Clos cuvées retain partial ageing in barrels. The rest is aged in stainless steel tanks on fine lees. Vinification follows the Burgundian method: partially destemmed harvest, manual punch-downs for gentle and silky extraction.

The Cuvées of Château Bellevue

Morgon : Entry-level red cuvée from Morgon, sourced from a blend of the various plots of the estate. Sandy-loamy soil, 40-year-old vines oriented south and east. Floral aromas accompanied by intense fruity notes after aeration. An accessible and expressive Morgon, for discovering the château's style. Aged in stainless steel tanks.

Morgon Les Charmes : Single-vineyard red cuvée from the 7 hectares of the Les Charmes climat, light brown sandy-loamy soil over clay and large sandstone blocks, East-South-East facing. Hand-harvested, partial destemming, long maceration of 3 to 4 weeks with manual punch-downs (reduced since 2022 to 10–12 days), partial ageing in large oak casks and French oak barrels for 9 to 10 months. "Fine, silky and elegant tannins. A harmonious and seductive wine with a broad aromatic palette." Gold medal at the Concours des Grands Vins du Beaujolais 2017. The flagship cuvée and the most produced at the estate.

Morgon Côte du Py : Single-vineyard red cuvée from the most renowned and most mineral terroir of Morgon, on the blue schists of Mont du Py. Maceration of 21 days, 20% whole clusters, ageing in tanks. A red wine of mineral depth and tension characteristic of this exceptional terroir: aromas of black cherry, violet and schist, a firm and tight palate in its youth, which gradually opens up to reveal remarkable complexity and length. The most mineral and most ambitious red cuvée of the estate.

Morgon Javernières : Single-vineyard red cuvée from the Javernières climat, on clay-limestone soils, producing wines of distinctive tension and freshness within the context of Morgon. Maceration of 21 days, partial ageing in barrels (one of only two cuvées retaining wood alongside Corcelette). A red wine of fine elegance and characteristic calcareous minerality, fresher and more precise than Les Charmes.

Morgon Corcelette Le Clos : Prestige red cuvée from the small Corcelette Le Clos plot (0.5 hectare), with the oldest vines on the estate, 70 years old, on clay and pink granite, situated closest to the château. Partial ageing in barrels. "A true gem of Château Bellevue." A red wine of incomparable concentration and suavity, complex and deep, with notes of ripe black fruits, spices and a beautiful length. "Suave and complex with lovely fruit notes." Réserve cuvée, produced in very small quantities.

Morgon Grand Cras : Red cuvée from the Grand Cras climat, another quality terroir of Morgon. "Another major success from Château Bellevue", according to enthusiasts. A deep and complex red wine, expressing the typicity of this soil between granite and schist of Morgon.

Fleurie Montgenas : Red cuvée from Fleurie sourced from the Montgenas plot, on the mid-slope of Mont Genas (350–360 metres altitude), sandy soil over saprolite of coarse-crystal pink granite, sheltered from prevailing winds. 80% destemmed, maceration 15 to 18 days with gentle pump-overs, ageing on fine lees in stainless steel tanks for 9 months. "Velvety tannins, a round, fleshy and characterful palate." A fine expression of Fleurie at altitude, tauter and more mineral than lowland Fleurie.

Beaujolais Blanc : White cuvée from Chardonnay grown organically on clay-limestone soil resting on crinoidal limestone 172 million years old. Worked and partially grassed-over soil. Nose of citrus and vanilla. A fresh and aromatic white wine, to accompany light cuisine or as an aperitif.