Domaine Louis Claude Devignes is a leading Beaujolais wine estate, based in the village of Villé-Morgon. It produces a range of red wines from the Gamay grape variety, focused on the Morgon appellation.
Recently the estate moved to certified organic farming. 14 hectares of vines are farmed on granite and decomposed schist soils.
In the winery the aim is to make a more tannic, ageworthy style of Beaujolais, with a grill placed in the tanks to keep the cap of grape skins submerged. The length of time that the grapes macerate depends on the different cuvées. The Morgon Voûte Saint-Vincent is macerated for ten days and aimed at earlier consumption, while other bottlings take longer.
The pinnacle of the range is Les Impénitents Javernières. This wine is made in tiny quantities from a parcel of century-old vines within the Javernières vineyard. The main plots here are "only" around 60 years old and go into the "normal" Javernières bottling.
The estate is run by siblings Benoît and Emmanuelle Desvignes. They represent the eighth generation of their family to make wine in Beaujolais. The family name means "of the vines".
Dried flowers, spice, liquorice and mixed berries. Medium-bodied, but dense and chewy, a stony feel to it, along with walnut and dried herb, a little spice, and a firm finish of good length. Lots of character here. Very good.