Château des Jacques
French Pronunciation Guide
The most prestigious estate in Beaujolais, producing structured, age-worthy Gamay wines using traditional Burgundian methods across 69 hectares.
Château des Jacques is the most prestigious estate in Beaujolais, producing structured, age-worthy wines from Moulin-à-Vent, Morgon, and Fleurie. Founded in 1924 and acquired by Maison Louis Jadot in 1996, the estate pioneered Burgundian techniques in Beaujolais, including long macerations and oak aging.
- Founded in 1924 by textile entrepreneur Amédée Rousseau; acquired by Maison Louis Jadot in 1996
- 69 hectares across Moulin-à-Vent, Morgon, and Fleurie appellations
- Soils of pink granite with manganese veins; diorite in select parcels
- Uses long macerations of 20 to 30 days and 10 months of oak barrel aging
- Among the first in Beaujolais to use destemming; resisted carbonic maceration trend of the 1950s
- Wines known as the 'King of Beaujolais' for power, structure, and longevity
- Château Bellevue in Morgon acquired in 2001, merged under the Château des Jacques name in 2008
History and Ownership
Château des Jacques was founded in 1924 by Amédée Rousseau, a French textile entrepreneur with a vision for quality Beaujolais. The château itself dates from the 17th and 18th centuries, and the estate passed to the Thorins family in 1931. In 1996, Maison Louis Jadot acquired the property, marking the first major Beaujolais purchase by a Burgundy négociant house. Château Bellevue in Morgon was added in 2001 and formally merged under the Château des Jacques name in 2008. The estate underwent a complete renovation in 2017.
- Founded 1924 by Amédée Rousseau; Thorins family ownership 1931 to 1996
- Acquired by Maison Louis Jadot in 1996, the first major Burgundy house to invest in Beaujolais
- Château Bellevue in Morgon acquired 2001, merged into the estate in 2008
- Full renovation completed in 2017; current winemaker is Julie Pitoiset
Terroir and Appellations
The estate spans 69 hectares across three of Beaujolais' ten Cru appellations: Moulin-à-Vent, Morgon, and Fleurie. The climate combines continental, Mediterranean, and Atlantic influences. Soils are predominantly pink granite with manganese veins, a signature of the northern Beaujolais Crus, with diorite found in select parcels. These geological conditions contribute directly to the structure and aging potential that distinguish Château des Jacques from most Beaujolais producers.
- 69 hectares across Moulin-à-Vent, Morgon, and Fleurie appellations
- Pink granite with manganese veins; diorite in some parcels
- Continental climate with Mediterranean and Atlantic influences
- Terroir supports structured, age-worthy Gamay Noir wines
Winemaking Philosophy
Château des Jacques is defined by its application of Burgundian winemaking methods to Gamay Noir. The estate was among the first in Beaujolais to practice destemming and deliberately resisted the carbonic maceration trend that swept the region in the 1950s. Long macerations of 20 to 30 days extract color, tannin, and structure, and wines are aged for 10 months in oak barrels. The result is a range of single-vineyard cuvées and Grand Clos wines with the depth and longevity more commonly associated with Pinot Noir from the Côte d'Or. Wines can age for decades and are recognized to resemble fine Burgundy when mature.
- Long macerations of 20 to 30 days for structure and extraction
- 10 months aging in oak barrels
- Destemming used; carbonic maceration avoided
- Produces single-vineyard cuvées and Grand Clos wines
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Julie Pitoiset serves as current winemaker, continuing the estate's commitment to precision and quality. Château des Jacques is widely recognized as the most prestigious estate in Beaujolais and is informally known as the 'King of Beaujolais' for the power, structure, and longevity of its wines. The estate is implementing environmental practices with the aim of achieving organic certification. The 17th century vaulted cellars remain central to the property.
- Recognized as the most prestigious estate in Beaujolais
- Known informally as the 'King of Beaujolais'
- Pursuing organic certification through ongoing environmental practices
- 17th century vaulted cellars remain part of the working estate
Château des Jacques wines show deep color, firm tannins, and complex dark fruit, with earthy, mineral, and floral notes from granite-based soils. The structured profile and oak influence set these wines apart from typical Beaujolais; they develop savory, Burgundy-like complexity with bottle age.
- Château des Jacques Moulin-à-Vent$25-35The estate's benchmark Moulin-à-Vent showcases Burgundian structure and granite-driven minerality from Gamay Noir.Find →
- Château des Jacques Morgon$25-35Morgon fruit depth meets Château des Jacques' long maceration technique, producing a structured, age-worthy red.Find →
- Château des Jacques Moulin-à-Vent Grand Clos$55-75The estate's flagship single-vineyard Grand Clos delivers decades of aging potential and Burgundy-like complexity.Find →
- Château des Jacques Fleurie$25-35Fleurie's floral character gains structure and depth under the Château des Jacques winemaking approach.Find →
- Château des Jacques operates across three Cru Beaujolais appellations: Moulin-à-Vent, Morgon, and Fleurie
- Acquired by Maison Louis Jadot in 1996, the first Burgundy négociant to make a major Beaujolais acquisition
- Key winemaking distinction: long maceration (20 to 30 days), oak aging (10 months), destemming; no carbonic maceration
- Soils are pink granite with manganese veins, with diorite in select parcels across 69 hectares
- Considered the most prestigious estate in Beaujolais; wines described as resembling fine Burgundy with age