2022 Pierre-Marie Chermette Brouilly Pierreux, Beaujolais

Martine Chermette’s grandmother was born and grew up among the vines at Pierreux, just outside the small hamlet of Odenas. As Martine puts it, “For sentimental reasons [we] couldn’t resist buying this little plot of vines at the foot of Mont Brouilly.” Chermette tends just 1.5 hectares of vines here, with 60-year-old roots delving deep into the eroded granite and bluestone that has been washed down from the mountain over millennia. The name Pierreux comes from the word pierres (‘stones’), illustrating the makeup of the soil.

This site clearly loves the cooler vintages: there’s more rocky depth here, alongside earthy spice and fresh blue fruits. The mouth-coating, satin-like texture is corseted by chalky tannins, juicy acidity and fresh-off-the-vine brightness. Terrific Brouilly.