Benoit Camus farms four hectares spread over eight parcels around Ville-sur-Jarnioux in the region’s south. The terroir is complex: predominantly limestone, with some clay, granite and marl in the mix. He lives there in a caravan hidden away in one of the parcels, which he lovingly refers to as ‘Chateau Roulant’. Three and a half of those hectares are planted with old vines of Gamay and he also grows a little Chardonnay. His first harvest here was in 2006, though he’s been working in vineyards since he was a teenager. He tends the vines alone, working organically and by hand and in the cellar things are kept simple with fermentation and élevage taking place in concrete and cuve with nothing added at any stage.

 

Benoit is a rare find – an old-school, paysan vigneron who’s just happy to be making pure, nourishing wines to be enjoyed by all…(and Holy Moly what kind of outcome! Bottles that always are kept on our favourite shelf or other winemakers asking for…).