Domaine de la Roche “La Croix Blanche” 2020

Domaine de la Roche is a young, organically minded estate in Lantignié, co-founded in 2019 by Mathieu Collonge and Charles Rodrigues to revive family vineyards dating back five generations. Their range focuses on site expression within Beaujolais-Villages and a tiny parcel in the neighboring Régnié cru. “La Croix Blanche” sits at the more serious end of their lineup, showcasing deeper structure and a savory, mineral line that’s characteristic of the area’s granitic slopes. (Domaine de la Roche, GNARLY VINES)

Producer Background

The domaine articulates a clear farming philosophy: conversion to organic practices, small-parcel attention, and an agro-ecology mindset that “puts living things at the center” of their agriculture. Communications on the estate site and Lantignié growers’ initiative underscore the focus on thoughtful farming and bottling at the source. While certification progresses, the practical day-to-day is already organic in the vines. (Domaine de la Roche, engagement-vins-lantignie.fr)

Vineyard / Source

Home base is Lantignié, where the estate farms about 7.5 hectares of Beaujolais-Villages parcels and an additional 0.5 hectare in Régnié. The terrain is a mosaic of granites—from pink granite to darker “pierres bleues” (blue stones)—with vine ages ranging roughly 30 to 100 years, which helps explain the wine’s density and mineral tone. These parcels ring the winery on elevated slopes, offering natural freshness alongside ripeness in warm vintages. (Domaine de la Roche)

Winemaking & Production

House style for La Croix Blanche blends semi-carbonic elements with partial maceration to preserve fruit while building mid-palate weight. The wine sees an extended élevage of ~2 years, with time in oak (no flashy new oak signature) and, depending on lot and market, very low to no added SO₂. This approach yields a full-bodied, savory expression that remains lifted and precise. (Volker’s Shop, 608franklinwines.com)

Vintage Context (Beaujolais 2020)

2020 is widely characterized as a vintage of ripeness, freshness, and balance in Beaujolais, thanks to a warm growing season that still preserved verve in well-situated sites. Inter Beaujolais describes the year as early and sun-marked, giving winemakers latitude to aim for either power or elegance. Burgundy Report notes that many producers pursued low-intervention paths—sometimes even lower SO₂—without compromising stability, consistent with the style choices at progressive domaines. Overall quality is high, with slightly higher alcohols in some wines but no shortage of energy. (Site Officiel des Vins du Beaujolais, Burgundy-Report, Wine-Searcher)