Chiroubles, highest of the Beaujolais crus, producing some of the lightest but most genuinely refreshing wines. The soils are very similar to the sandiest parts of neighbouring fleurie and wines can be a little tart in poor vintages. Perhaps the most archetypically Beaujolais of all the crus, Chiroubles is best drunk relatively young. Total vineyard area had shrunk to 324 ha/800 acres by 2012. For more details, see beaujolais.
© Jancis Robinson and Oxford University Press 1994, 1999, 2006, 2015
