Due to painfully low yields his plants produced in 2021, Thierry decided to create a one-off blend of old vines Pineau d’Aunis (130 year old!) from the Sarthe that would usually go into La Centenaire du Vauperroux, and Gamay (70-100 year old) from Touraine that would usually make up Les Maluseaux.
Fifth-generation Pierre Cotton took back a hectare of family vines in 2014 and has built a 13-hectare, five-appellation estate at Odenas, farmed organically. This comes from the hectare of Beaujolais he added in 2016. Vines average around 65 years, hand-harvested, fermented with native yeasts and little or no sulphur.
Maxime Barrot, known as Jean-Max ia part of a wave of new talent in Beaujolais. After working with Antonie Luyt in Chile and Yvon Metras in Morgon - he started his own operation in 2019, now up to 3.4 hecrates. Initially working out tof the cellar of friend Eric Texier, now in the south of Beaujolais, his vision is for wines with juicy fruit, drinkability and perfect balance.
Brouilly Les Mines Pierre Cotton (Magnum) (Magnum)
Pierre Cotton reclaimed two hectares of family Brouilly in 2015, and this bottling comes from a lieu-dit near Odenas on the southern slope of Mont Brouilly. The domaine now covers 13 hectares across five appellations, organically farmed, with vines averaging 65 years old. Bottled in magnum.
A strong French following for Bouland is perhaps one reason why you don`t see his wines as often as you should, but they are worth seeking down as they are about as good as anything produced in the region and are underpriced for their quality for the time being. In the words of La Revue du Vin These wines have an intensity that can only come from old vines that are impeccably cultivated… We do not hesitate to say that you will find here the best value for money in red wine [in this guide].”"
Gamay from a hundred year old plot, planted over granite some four hundred metres above sea level on the steep slopes of Chiroubles. Fermented as whole bunches for a fortnight, the wine spent nine months resting in concrete eggs.
Pierre Cotton`s debut wine, from a hectare of Côte de Brouilly he reclaimed from the family in 2014. `Corne verte`, a pink granite and diorite mix, underlies the vines at Odenas. With partner Marine Bonnet, an agronomist, he has since replanted hundreds of trees through the vineyards. Low sulphur, organic.
Cote de Brouilly 100% Cotton Bonnet-Cotton (Magnum)
Pierre Cotton founded the domaine in 2014 with one hectare of Côte de Brouilly reclaimed from his family, and this was his first wine. The vines sit beside the winery at Odenas on `corne verte`, a pink granite and diorite blend he says exists nowhere else in Beaujolais. Organic since the start.
A strong French following for Bouland is perhaps one reason why you don`t see his wines as often as you should, but they are worth seeking down as they are about as good as anything produced in the region and are underpriced for their quality for the time being. In the words of La Revue du Vin These wines have an intensity that can only come from old vines that are impeccably cultivated… We do not hesitate to say that you will find here the best value for money in red wine [in this guide].”"
`The 2015 Fleurie Clepsydre comes from high density planting (9,000 vines per hectare) on granite soils cropped at 30 hectoliters per hectare, and the fruit here is 100% destemmed followed by ten months in oak casks. It has a meaty nose with garrigue scents infusing the dark berry fruit. The palate is well balanced with supple ripe tannin and crisp acidity, with a well defined, fresh finish that leaves a residue of white pepper on the aftertaste. There is an uncommon sense of mystery about this Fleurie…and I like that` 90 Points Neal Martin
Anne-Sophie Dubois`s family left Champagne and bought this Fleurie estate in 1992; she took charge in 2006, aged 23. Around eight hectares sit high up in a granite amphitheatre at Les Labourons, the lieu-dit this cuvée was later renamed after. Pink granite, organic-certified since 2019.
Anne Sophie Dubois makes wines that have one foot in the Burgundian tradition, and the other in something quintessentially Beaujolaisian (if that`s a word). Longer elevage on the Alchimiste cuvee make it one for the cellar, where the higher altitude of her Fleurie vines really delivers freshness and super super complexity.
Anne Sophie Dubois makes wines that have one foot in the Burgundian tradition, and the other in something quintessentially Beaujolaisian (if that`s a word). Longer elevage on the Alchimiste cuvee make it one for the cellar, where the higher altitude of her Fleurie vines really delivers freshness and super super complexity.
A Champagne native, Anne-Sophie Dubois sought out old Gamay vines in Fleurie after her family bought the estate in 1992. This is the first wine bottled each vintage: whole clusters, carbonic maceration and about six months in wood. Eight hectares of steep pink granite, organic since 2019.
Fleurie Les Colonies de Rochegres Chateau de Beauregard Joseph Burrier
Six generations of the Burrier family run Château de Beauregard, built in 1816 in Pouilly-Fuissé; Frédéric-Marc Burrier has led it since 1999. This cuvée comes from the oldest vines, planted in 1952, on steep east-facing slopes at Poncié in Fleurie, where granite has eroded into pink, iron-rich sand.
The family domaine at Odenas dates back to 1856, and Pierre Cotton widened it beyond Brouilly in 2016 by adding a Fleurie parcel. The estate now runs to 13 hectares across five appellations, organically farmed, with vines averaging 65 years old. Hand-harvested, native yeasts, minimal sulphur.
`An aromatic of energy – mineral, almost steely red fruit – freshness too. Good depth and supple concentration but with a lovely finishing freshness – long, haunting flavours in the finish but subtle – this is no broad or powerful finish – just a very elegant wine.`Bill Nanson
A strong French following for Bouland is perhaps one reason why you don`t see his wines as often as you should, but they are worth seeking down as they are about as good as anything produced in the region and are underpriced for their quality for the time being. In the words of La Revue du Vin These wines have an intensity that can only come from old vines that are impeccably cultivated… We do not hesitate to say that you will find here the best value for money in red wine [in this guide].”"
The Chamonard family has worked vines in Morgon and Fleurie since the 18th century. Joseph Chamonard farmed naturally; after his death around 1990, daughter Geneviève and her husband Jean-Claude Chanudet, `Le Chat`, took over. Around five hectares of Morgon plus half a hectare of Fleurie, with vines 60 to 90 years old on pink granite and schist.
Romain Zordan took over his parents` vines at this 18th-century Fleurie estate in 2012 and runs it with his brother Alex, certified organic since 2012. Of roughly eight hectares, about 1.5 are in Morgon, including the northern Duby climat. Jean-François Ganevat is a mentor and buys some of his grapes.
Daniel Bouland is a reclusive, old-school grower working family parcels from his home hamlet between Villié-Morgon and Chiroubles. This old-vine Gamay grows on the stony soils of that hamlet; its sister bottling comes from granitic sand with vines planted in 1926. Hand-picked, aged in old foudre. He makes ten cuvées.
Jean and Agnès Foillard took over his father`s domaine in 1980 and became part of the `Gang of Four`, Jules Chauvet`s disciples alongside Lapierre, Breton and Thévenet. Fourteen organic hectares, mostly on an extinct volcanic hill above Villié-Morgon, with granite, schist and `rotten rock` soils and some centenarian vines.
Among the elite of Beaujolais, Breton`s 3000 case production is spread quite thinly, he has a big following in the restaurant sector in France, owing, largely due to the way in which poise, elegance and ageability and combined with sheer, joyous drinkability.
Among the elite of Beaujolais, Breton`s 3000 case production is spread quite thinly, he has a big following in the restaurant sector in France, owing, largely I think to the way in which poise, elegance and ageability and combined with sheer, joyous drinkability.
Moulin a Vent Clos de Rochegres Chateau des Jacques Louis Jadot
Château des Jacques dates to 1829 and was bought by Louis Jadot in 1996, making it the first great Burgundian house to own major Beaujolais vineyards. This is a four-hectare clos high on the Moulin-à-Vent slope, on pink granite veined with quartz. Jadot vinifies each clos separately, Burgundian-style.
Cuvée was born from the uncommonly bad conditions in 2021. Another original blend, this time of old vines Gamay planted over granite and quartz on the steep slopes of Chiroubles and Chénas.
Among the elite of Beaujolais, Breton`s 3000 case production is spread quite thinly, he has a big following in the restaurant sector in France, owing, largely I think to the way in which poise, elegance and ageability and combined with sheer, joyous drinkability.
