Domaine de la Croix Barraud

Gamay from Chénas: mineral-driven Beaujolais with structure and age-worthiness.

Domaine de la Croix Barraud produces Gamay from Chénas, one of Beaujolais's ten crus. The region's granite and schist soils yield wines of structure and mineral precision—a departure from the lighter styles Beaujolais is often assumed to offer. The domaine's Chénas Cuvée Prestige and Chénas En Mélardière demonstrate the variety's capacity for depth and aging potential. Both wines have been assessed by Wine Enthusiast and Wine Advocate, with the Cuvée Prestige reaching particular recognition among prestige critics. Chénas itself sits at the northern edge of Beaujolais, where cooler conditions and older vines encourage complexity. The wines reflect the terroir's demand for precision in the cellar and patience in the glass.