Fleurie

France
Beaujolais
2022

100% Gamay. Jean-Paul farms 6 hectares in Fleurie, all of it in the celebrated lieu-dit of Grille Midi, a south-facing amphitheater of vines on poor, sandy, decomposed-granite soils over hard granite rock. This site yields wines of great concentration, power and longevity.There are two Terres Dorées bottlings from this vineyard: a straight Fleurie and a "Grille Midi". The key differences are vine age and the aging of the wines. The Fleurie is from the younger vines, which are around 40 years old, while the Grille Midi vines are 65 years and up. The wines are vinified the same way, as are all of Jean-Paul's wines: the hand-harvested bunches are destemmed and fermented with native yeasts and without sulfur in concrete tanks. Maceration for the regular Fleurie is 3-4 weeks (vs. 6 weeks for the Grille Midi). The Fleurie is aged in concrete for 6-8 months, while the Grille Midi spends that time in foudres instead; both wines are bottled with a light, non-sterile filtration and minimal sulfur. 

90 points
"The 2022 Fleurie, sourced from Grille Midi, flies out of the glass with aromas of violet and lilac petals, bramble fruit and sweet spices followed by a medium to full-bodied palate marked by generous concentration and a berry-fruited core. Integrated with polished tannins, the wine bestows a silken texture, facilitating a swift, seamless progression. "
Kenna Wells,
Wine Advocate
May 2024

SKU/Code: 
DB0308-22
Product Line: 
Wine
Red
Varietal: 
Gamay
Farming Type: 
Sustainable