2023 Pierre-Marie Chermette Fleurie Poncié Beaujolais

The Pierre-Marie Chermette Fleurie Poncié is a benchmark example of cru Beaujolais at its most perfumed and elegant. Pierre-Marie Chermette, a leading voice in traditional Beaujolais, is known for crafting authentic, terroir-driven wines with minimal intervention, native yeast fermentation, and no heavy extraction. His single-vineyard bottlings are prized for their purity and finesse, and Poncié — a historic lieu-dit in Fleurie — is among his most expressive sites.

Poncié sits on steep slopes with granitic soils that are poor and free-draining, conditions that force Gamay vines to dig deep and produce naturally low yields. This terroir gives wines that balance aromatic lift with fine structure, often considered the “feminine” side of Beaujolais compared to the power of Moulin à Vent.

In the glass, the Fleurie Poncié is a bright ruby red. The bouquet is intoxicating, bursting with violets, peonies and wild roses layered over red cherries, raspberries and hints of spice. On the palate it is silky and graceful, offering juicy red fruit alongside subtle mineral tones and delicate tannins. The finish is long, refined and floral, capturing Fleurie’s hallmark elegance.

Food pairings lean toward dishes that highlight delicacy rather than weight. Roast chicken with thyme, duck breast with cherry glaze, grilled salmon, or creamy mushroom pasta are all natural companions. It also shines with charcuterie and washed-rind cheeses like Reblochon. While delicious young, it can cellar for 8 to 10 years, developing more savoury, earthy notes and dried floral complexity.

Critics consistently praise Chermette’s Fleurie Poncié for its authenticity and perfume, often awarding scores in the 92–94 range. It is described as one of the most “Burgundian” of Beaujolais wines, prized by sommeliers for its balance of freshness, finesse and terroir expression.