Domaine Anita has terrific parcels in some of Beaujolais’ most esteemed terroir, and the wines taste incredible. They’re fresh, racy, and sleek, with the delicate-yet-vibrant dichotomy we love (and frankly, haven’t seen much of in... Read More

Domaine Anita has terrific parcels in some of Beaujolais’ most esteemed terroir, and the wines taste incredible. They’re fresh, racy, and sleek, with the delicate-yet-vibrant dichotomy we love (and frankly, haven’t seen much of in these recent hot vintages).

If you’re looking for classically-styled Gamay with terroir transparency, refined structure, and vibrant, juicy flavors, Domaine Anita’s Cru Beaujolais is exactly what you need.

New winemakers in established wine regions aren’t popping up everyday. This relatively young estate (Anita Kuhnel, a former professional cyclist, purchased her vines in 2015) is a new find from Rosenthal Wine Merchants, and tasting through the lineup was a revelation.

The winery is located in the lesser-known Cru of Chénas; Anita holds vines here, and in Fleurie, Morgan, and Moulin-à-Vent, ranging in age from 40 to over 100 years old. In pursuit of clear, clean site expression, vineyard management is virtually pre-industrial (she uses a horse-drawn plow), and chemicals are only used when the harvest would otherwise be completely lost. Each parcel is vinified separately in cement, with a percentage aged in oak — always from Aloxe-Corton, and always used for at least 3 years.