Producer: Nicolas Chemarin

Nicolas Chemarin

Nicolas Chemarin, alias P’tit Grobis, courageously cultivates his steep vines in the Beaujolais-Villages appellation and produces beautiful, fresh and delicious wines.

Tous ses vins

10 products

Régnié La Haute ronze Red 2017
Nicolas Chemarin

Régnié La Haute ronze Red 2017

€29,00

Le Rocher rouge 2018
Nicolas Chemarin

Le Rocher rouge 2018

€33,50

Je t'ai dans la peau White 2017
Nicolas Chemarin

Je t'ai dans la peau White 2017

€37,00

Les Vignes de Jeannot Red 2017
Nicolas Chemarin

Les Vignes de Jeannot Red 2017

€25,00

Je t'ai dans la peau White, 2018
Nicolas Chemarin

Je t'ai dans la peau White, 2018

€33,00

Le Rocher red 2017
Nicolas Chemarin

Le Rocher red 2017

€34,00

Magnum Régnié La Haute Ronze Red 2017
Nicolas Chemarin

Magnum Régnié La Haute Ronze Red 2017

€59,00

Beaujolais Village P'tit Grobis White 2023
Nicolas Chemarin

Beaujolais Village P'tit Grobis White 2023

€23,90

Magnum Les Vignes de Jeannot Red 2017
Nicolas Chemarin

Magnum Les Vignes de Jeannot Red 2017

€59,00

Magnum Le Rocher Red 2017
Nicolas Chemarin

Magnum Le Rocher Red 2017

€73,60

Where?

Nicolas Chemarin, thirty-five years old, represents the fourth generation of winemakers at his family winery in Marchampt, in the Beaujolais-Villages appellation, on stony land where he crafts wines of surprising depth and sincerity. Nicolas's great-grandfather practiced mixed farming; the decision to cultivate only vines dates back to his father's time. His grandfather had previously purchased the estate's large building and built a semi-buried concrete winery, which is still in use today. After earning a BTS (Higher National Diploma) in viticulture and an apprenticeship in Pouilly-Fuissé, Nicolas took over two hectares of his father's vines in 2005. At the same time, he spent two years in charge of winemaking at Louis Tête's in Beaujolais, which didn't stop him from producing his first vintages in 2006. In 2008, he acquired other vineyards and decided to devote himself solely to his estate. A bit of local linguistics: Nicolas is a Grobis: this is the nickname given to the inhabitants of Marchampt in Beaujolais, and he himself was given the name P'tit Grobis, which explains his eponymous vintage.

Terroir, plots, and grape varieties

Nicolas cultivates a total of around ten hectares, 80% of which are AOC Beaujolais-Villages. Since Xavier de Pontac (creator of Château Haut-Brion and modern red wines in the 17th century), it has been said that vines must be allowed to sulphur, and this is the case in Marchampt. The terroir, very steep, consists of rocky and poor soils, resting on a gray granite rock (and not pink as is common in this appellation). The vines, on about thirty plots, rest on the granite through a very thin soil, and their roots plunge deep into the bedrock. This mineral nature gives very small yields and vines of venerable age which, sometimes, stunt like bonsai. Depending on the configuration of the soil, the vines are pruned in goblet or raised on stakes. Their average age is 80 years. The grape varieties are typically Beaujolais: Gamay Noir à jus blanc for the reds, Chardonnay for the whites.

In the Régnié appellation, Nicolas cultivates two different terroirs: Les Bullats, at an altitude of 280 m, with light, filtering sandy soils formed by the decomposition of pink granite, and La Haute Ronze, a high-quality lieu-dit very close to Morgon: the deeper, clayey soils produce full-bodied wines. In the Morgon appellation, Nicolas cultivates 30 ares in Les Charmes and 37 ares in Corcelette.

Cultivation Methods

"To go and make Beaujolais Villages up there, you have to want it! Or have been born here..." confides Nicolas, whose vines are cultivated only by hand. To his great regret, organic certification is impossible on such steep terrain, but Nicolas comes as close as possible to organic criteria in the vineyard and "follows the moon" like a good farmer. In any case, between 450 and 560 meters above sea level, on slopes of 35 to 55%, mechanization is impossible and everything is done by hand. Throughout the estate, trimming is done with shears. While the soils of the plots in Morgon and Régnié are worked, in Beaujolais-Villages the grass is mowed throughout the summer. The Le Rocher plot is trained on stakes raised two or three times, which aids ripening. After veraison, the lower parts, around the grapes, are leafed out. One of the estate's advantages is that each terroir ripens at different times, allowing the work to be spread over three weeks.

Vinification

Nicolas Chemarin vinifies in two ways: for the merchant, with thermovinification ("against my nature but for my banker"), and for himself, with his own natural vintages made using traditional methods. The harvest is destemmed or not depending on the vintage and the terroir. The vintages undergo long macerations (18 to 30 days) with punching down and temperature control (Nicolas works cold, around 20°C). Thirty percent of the vintages are aged in temperature-controlled concrete vats installed by his grandfather, while the remaining seventy percent are aged in four to ten-year-old barrels to provide oxygenation but little or no oakiness. For his microcuvées, Nicolas uses small stainless steel vats. No sulfites are added during aging. No filtration is used except for P’tit Grobis, which is filtered through white earth.

The Wines

For making wine, a harsh, difficult terroir is a blessing, however hard the work may be. Young Nicolas is already known for the quality of his care of the vines and his intelligence in his winemaking. The Le P’tit Grobis cuvée, sweet and fruity, is a pleasant wine available in white and red. Les Vignes de Jeannot is fresh, captivating, fruity (strawberry), and refreshed by the altitude (450 meters). Le Rocher, harvested even higher (560 meters), presents a very mature and pure tannic line, with notes of patchouli on the nose and a fruity-floral balance on the palate—rose, morello cherry, spices. These are rare and sought-after wines that can be aged for two or three years from the date of their vintage.

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