2023 Fleurie

This is the first vintage from Guillaume Boillot’s Beaujolais project. The vines sit at the top of the hill in Fleurie, a cool spot which ripens late. Largely (80%) gobelet or bush vines, with an average age of 70 years, the granite soils shine through in the wine. In line with most Cru Beaujolais, you won’t find any carbonic maceration here, although Boillot uses 10% whole-bunch fermentation. The resulting wine is tight, with a savoury, reductive, barnyard-edged nose. Notes of white pepper and candied cherry emerge with time, while the palate is gloriously juicy, with mouthwatering acidity and wave upon wave of redcurrant fruit. The tannins are fine, providing a barely there framework for the fruit. Long and bright, this cries out for a plate of charcuterie. 25,000 bottles produced.