Saint-Amour PDO

Saint-Amour, a Beaujolais wine that has everything to please

Just by its name, it seduces all wine lovers. Saint-Amour is also called upon every year for Valentine's Day. However, it is not only its name that is charming. This AOC red wine from Beaujolais knows how to combine elegance and finesse. And it is one of the 10 Crus that make the reputation of the Beaujolais vineyard more and more deserved. A wine of great quality, fruity, pleasant and with a good quality-price ratio: the seductive assets of the saint-amour are definitely numerous.

General presentation of the appellation saint-amour

Saint-Amour opens the ball of the Beaujolais Crus. Its production area is indeed the most northern of all. It is located on the border of the Saône-et-Loire and the Rhône, only about fifteen kilometres from Mâcon.

The vineyard is located exclusively in the commune of Saint-Amour-Bellevue, from which it takes part of its name. The Saint-Amour AOC covers about 320 hectares, which makes it one of the smallest production areas in the Beaujolais. It also adjoins the AOC Juliénas, as well as Chénas and Moulin-à-vent, other famous Beaujolais Crus.

Gamay noir à jus blanc is the region's flagship grape variety. Alongside it, and within a limit of 15% per parcel, the Saint-Amour appellation authorises the following secondary grape varieties: aligoté, melon and chardonnay. The local production gives rise to two types of wine, which depend on the length of maceration of the grapes. When it is short, the wines are light and should be drunk young. When the maceration is long, the Saint Amours are more robust and are made to be kept.

Characteristics of Saint-Amour

The red wines of the Saint-Amour appellation have a bright, sparkling ruby colour. Their nose is intense, marked by red and black fruits such as raspberry and blackcurrant. Floral notes of peony are recurrent. And the peach and apricot flavours bring an original note to this Beaujolais. These crus can be enjoyed very early.

After a long maceration, the Saint-Amour becomes more robust, more tannic. Its colour takes on darker hues, tending towards deep purple. The aromas of kirsch, spices and reseda dominate its aromatic palette. These wines are best enjoyed at maturity, after 2-3 years of aging. They can wait another 1-2 years, or even longer for good vintages.

How to taste a Saint-Amour

Saint-Amour is a red wine that goes well with many dishes. This Beaujolais goes well with red meat: beef carpaccio, beef with carrots, beef bourguignon... It also goes well with poultry or white meat: roast chicken, veal paupiette with cream, chicken with crayfish... It is also a wine to match with game birds, quail for example. On the cheese platter, favour soft cheeses: Camembert, Brie, Coulommiers, etc.

It is advisable to serve a Saint-Amour at a temperature of 15°.