If you are a regular Cru Beaujolais consumer, you are likely familiar with Régnié. However, I must admit that I only discovered this Cru earlier this year and was delighted to learn more about it.
Like Saint-Amour and Chénas, Régnié is often overlooked and, in my experience, not easy to find in stores. Interestingly, this Cru is named after a Roman man, Reginus, who owned a villa in the region and produced wine there. Despite its long history of winemaking, Régnié did not achieve Cru status until 1988, thanks to the lobbying efforts of local growers.
This distinctive Cru lies between Morgon and Brouilly, extending to the border of Beaujolais Villages. It also includes a few acres of the village of Lantignié, where many young, innovative winemakers are honing their craft—though Lantignié itself has not been granted Cru Beaujolais status (“yet”).
Régnié is renowned for its pink granite soils, which contain a higher percentage of granite compared to other prominent Crus like Morgon and Moulin-à-Vent. This geological distinction underscores why the winemakers of Régnié were so determined to achieve Cru status. The region's average altitude is slightly higher than Brouilly and Morgon, with a hilly yet gently sloping terrain that adds to its unique character.
The tasting profile of Régnié wine shares some similarities with Morgon and Brouilly. It offers the structure and body typical of Morgon, combined with the bright red fruit notes characteristic of Brouilly. What sets Régnié apart, however, are its distinctive spice and mineral notes. Another notable feature of Régnié wines is their approachability—they are easier to drink and tend to mature more quickly compared to other Cru Beaujolais.
Here are the wines I explored during my month of Régnié:
2020 Domaine Raphaël Chopin Régnié “Les Braves”
This Domaine, located in Lantignié, was established in 2009 when Raphaël acquired vines from his grandfather. Today, Raphaël manages five hectares of vineyards spread across Régnié, Morgon, and Beaujolais Villages. His focus is on crafting terroir-driven wines and uncovering the best, most unique expression of each vintage.
This particular wine showcased an abundance of black fruit notes, including blackberry, black plum, dried black blueberry, and fresh blueberry. Alongside the fruit, I detected herbal nuances of thyme and rosemary, floral hints of violet, and spice elements like nutmeg and cinnamon, all complemented by a touch of dark chocolate.
2022 Julien Sunier Régnié
Julien Sunier has an intriguing connection to one of Burgundy's legendary winemakers. Growing up in Burgundy, his mother, a hairstylist, used to cut Christophe Roumier's hair. After Julien graduated, his mother, keen to help guide his career, arranged a meeting with Roumier. This fortuitous encounter led to Julien working at Domaine Roumier. Following winemaking adventures in California, New Zealand, and Beaujolais, Julien eventually acquired three old-vine plots in Fleurie, Régnié, and Morgon. Over the past decade, he has established himself as a winemaker, cultivating his 7.2-hectare vineyard without the use of chemical fertilizers or herbicides.
This particular wine displayed remarkable complexity, with notes of black plum, black cherry, cooked strawberry, blackberry, blueberry, cooked blueberry, nutmeg, cherry cola, cough syrup, kefir, molasses, cinnamon, anise, and allspice. Despite its relative youth, it showed early signs of aging. The cuvée is crafted from grapes sourced from En Oeillat, Les Vergers, and Basse Ronze and is aged for nine months in a combination of 50% barrels and 50% large wooden vats. Julien even includes technical winemaking details on the label, offering transparency into his process. I’m eager to explore more of Julien's wines when I have the opportunity.
My overall experience of tasting Régnié wines left me curious about why they are less celebrated compared to other Crus. Spotting Régnié in stores feels like uncovering a hidden gem, as they are not easy to find. However, this Cru is undoubtedly worth exploring, offering a unique perspective that can deepen your appreciation and knowledge of Cru Beaujolais.