Gamay Wine

Winemaker Description 

This crisp, fruit-forward, juicy wine has expressive aromas and flavors of ripe red berries, with nice weight in the mouth. 

If you like Beaujolais, this is one you'll want to come back to again and again. It features strawberry, raspberry, and black fruits. Chill for 20 minutes and enjoy with grilled salmon, roast chicken, lighter meats and of course most vegetarian dishes.

Expert Review

Reggie Solomon writes:  This is a good, hearty and muscular Beaujolais that would pair with grilled vegetables and meats. This wine has a nose of black plum, rosehip, strawberry and blossom. On the palate the wine is firm with red and black fruit predominating.  - Wine Enthusiast 

Winemaker Description

A top-tier old vine Beaujolais-Villages from a densely planted, early ripening sector.

Tutti Frutti! Nose with notes of strawberry, cherry, raspberry, plum, blackberry... Juicy, fluid, supple and easy to drink, with just the right amount of structure and depth. Long finish on tangy red fruits aromas.

Winemaker Description

All our vines are located on the Morgon terroir. It is undoubtedly one of the most famous wines of Beaujolais! Typically, Morgon has four dominant aromas: cherry, violet, raspberry and a very slight touch of liquorice… Combining lightness and richness, our Morgon has an aging potential of around ten years on average. It should be noted that the Morgon appellation dates from 1936, only 12 years after the creation of the first AOCs, in Arbois and Châteauneuf. Winemaker Description.

Winemaker Notes

Winemaker Description

From the ever-creative and driven Julien Sunier comes this "anytime red", as he fondly refers to it. Wild Soul, like most of Sunier's fruit, is farmed and harvested at high altitude (400m), resulting in freshness, aromatic vibrancy, a lythe presence on the palate, and endless pleasure. 

Winemaker Description 

This wine features a complex bouquet of raspberries, mulberries, and rose petals. The palate is supple, with a juicy core of red fruit that is bright and delicious. The silky texture completes the package for this gorgeous Juliénas.

Memo Pairing Suggestions

Food Pairings

    Classics: Roasted turkey, duck confit, or grilled pork sausages.

    Vegetarian: Mushroom-and-ham quiche or a savory mushroom risotto.

    Cheese: Creamy, soft cheeses like Camembert or slightly aged goat cheese.

The Marcel Lapierre Morgon Cuvée S Organic 2024 is a fantastic expression of Morgon, one of the Beaujolais Crusin France. The Morgon appellation is known for its rich, more structured wines compared to other Beaujolais wines, thanks to the granitic soils and the unique character of the Gamay grape.

The Marcel Lapierre Morgon Cuvée S Organic 2024 is a 100% organic wine from a producer that is legendary for its natural winemaking approach. This cuvée offers a perfect balance of fruitiness, earthiness, and subtle complexity. You can expect red berry aromas (think raspberry and cherry) combined with hints of minerality and a touch of spicy complexity from the granite soils of Morgon. The wine is made using traditional, natural methods, meaning it’s fermented with indigenous yeasts and sees minimal intervention in the winery.

• Taste: On the palate, it's vibrant, with smooth tannins, fresh acidity, and a bit of garrigue or herbs in the background. It's an approachable yet deeply satisfying wine that showcases the purity and character of the Morgon terroir.

• Finish: The finish is long and fresh, with some subtle earthy notes, making it a great match with a variety of foods, from charcuterie to roasted meats.

The Cuvée S designation hints at a more selected and special vineyard parcel, likely offering a slightly more refined expression of Morgon. This wine is the epitome of the natural wine movement in Beaujolais, where you get a wine that speaks directly to the region's terroir.

Expert Review

Neal Martin writes:  The 2024 Morgon that I tasted from barrel came from the first and third pickings. There is plenty of vivacious white-tipped strawberry and Morello cherry on the nose. The palate is lively and very citrus-driven with red cherries, orange zest, noticeably "punchy" acidity and a chalky finish.  - Vinous 90-92

Winemaker Description

Smoke, tar, and char on the nose along with stewed plums, blackberries, and figs. The palate is softer on the tongue than the nose might suggest. Berries and figs come through with a little black pepper and cinnamon. Woody tannins settle into the sides of the tongues and linger a little with a background of umami. Pair with game meats, bbq, honeyed hams, and dark chocolate.

Winemaker Description 

From the oldest estate vines (80-100 years). Its 18-day maceration is longer than for the Fleurie but vinification and aging are otherwise the same. Named “Tardive” not for being late-harvest (it is not) but for needing more time before being truly ready to drink.

The Clos de la Roilette, a lieu-dit in the village of Fleurie, covers nine hectares of one of the best slopes in the Beaujolais Crus. The clos has an eastern exposure, borders the Moulin-à-Vent  appellation, and produces wines that are beautiful when young and have the capacity to age 5-10 years, depending on the vintage.

In the 1920’s, when the Fleurie appellation was first created, the former landowner was infuriated with losing the Moulin-à-Vent appellation under which the clos had previously been classified. He created a label, using a photograph of his racehorse Roilette, and used the name Clos de la Roilette without mentioning Fleurie. The owner vowed not to sell a drop of his wine on the French market and the production went to Switzerland, Germany and England.

By the mid-1960s, the owner’s heirs had lost interest in the clos and a large portion of the land had gone wild and untended. In 1967, Fernand Coudert bought this poorly maintained estate and replanted the vineyards. His son Alain joined him in 1984, and has been the winemaker since.

The Couderts say their particular terroir (mainly clay and manganese), and the age of their vines account for the richness of their wine. It has a deep blackcurrant color with a hint of purple, a restrained nose of crème de cassis, a rich, full mouth with aromas of cassis, black cherries, and a nutty character, and finishes with zesty acidity. This is a wine that ages gracefully and takes on the aromatic character of a Pinot Noir.

With the 1998 vintage, the Couderts introduced a new wine, "Cuvée Christal" (recently renamed "Cuvée Christie") which is lighter and meant to drink younger. A few years later, they started a selection of old vines cuvée. They call this "Cuvée Tardive", meaning that it needs more aging time and has even greater longevity than the regular Fleurie cuvée. Finally, the most recent addition is a wine called "La Griffe du Marquis", made from the same old vines that produce "Cuvée Tardive" but vinified and aged exclusively in Burgundian barrels.

Memo Summary Notes

The Clos de la Roilette Fleurie "Cuvée Tardive" 2024 is widely regarded by enthusiasts and critics as one of the most serious and age-worthy expressions of Gamay in Beaujolais. Unlike many Fleuries that are prized for delicate floral notes, the "Roilette" site sits on the border of Moulin-à-Vent, resulting in a deeper, more structured wine.

This is a "meaty" Gamay. It pairs perfectly with roast duck, herb-crusted lamb chops, or grilled sausages. Its acidity also makes it a great match for a traditional Thanksgiving turkey or earthy mushroom dishes.

Winemaker Description 

Intense ruby red in appearance. Aromas are powerful and concentrated. Good tonicity of floral aromas but also blackberry then caramel and roasted chocolate. Volume of ripe fruit with dominant aromas of blackberry and blackcurrant, associated with notes of liquorice. Opulent and well-structured on the palate, this area is rich in tannins chiseled lace. The acidity is well integrated. 

The wine has a hint of minerality that makes you mouth water. The finish is persistent and fresh. The pairings are multiple and infinite and we can refer to all the pairings of our red Beaujolais, particularly the rabbit terrines, duck, wildfowl, young roast rabbit, a pigeon with peas, small Provencal stuffing, red fruit tarts etc.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023

Stuart Pigott JamesSuckling.com writes 93 Points | Very cool, delicate and restrained, this Fleurie is barely medium-bodied but has quite a firm tannic core and plenty of wet-stone minerality. The red berry fruit is still a bit closed, so you need some patience. Very good structure in the long finish. From organically grown grapes. From approximately 40-year-old vines. Matured in large neutral oak foudre barrels and smaller barrels that are at least five years old. Drink from 2027. 

Kenna Wells of The Wine Advocate 91+ Points  | The 2023 Fleurie Clos de la Grand'Cour, sourced from "young" vines up to 50 years old, bursts with juicy red fruits—strawberries and cherries—layered with orange peel, hibiscus and a touch of brown spice. On the palate, enveloping tannins provide structure and guide a long, steady progression. A delicate thread of graphite-like salinity emerges on the mid-palate, harmonizing with the wine's fleshy fruit. Yet it is the vibrant, expressive flavors that take center stage, culminating in a bold, fruit-driven finish. With its refined architecture and impressive depth, this wine promises great aging potential. Drink: 2026-2035. 

Neal Martin of Vinous 91 Points  | The 2023 Fleurie Clos de la Grand Cour comes from vines that encircle the estate that are mostly 40-50-years-old. It has a fresh, marine-tinged bouquet with just a hint of oyster shell in the background. The palate is medium-bodied and very harmonious, with gentle grip, lithe tannins, and touches of orange pith and marmalade toward the finish. Give this a year in bottle. Drink: 2026-2036. 

Memo Summary Notes 

The 2023 vintage is a highly concentrated yet elegant expression of Fleurie, which often earns the nickname, "The Queen of Beaujolais."

• Aroma: Highly aromatic, marked by signature floral notes (violet, rose/lilac) intertwined with bright red and black cherry, candied plum, and a hint of sweet spice or licorice.

• Palate: The wine is typically medium-bodied with a sleek, velvety texture. It shows a lovely balance between concentrated, dark fruit flavors and vibrant, precise acidity.

• Structure: It has fine, elegant tannins that provide structure and a long, mineral-driven finish, suggesting good aging potential (many recommend drinking or holding).

• Fleurie's combination of lightness and structure makes it incredibly versatile:

  • Classic Pairing: Roasted chicken or turkey. Other Dishes: Charcuterie, savory mushroom dishes, grilled tuna, or soft, mild cheeses.