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Gamay is one of the oldest and most emblematic red grape varieties in French viticulture. Originating in the heart of Burgundy, it appears in writings as early as the 14th century. The first mention dates back to 1360, in the small village of Gamay, near Saint-Aubin, which gave it its name.
From its origins, this grape variety sparked both fascination and controversy. In the 15th century, Duke Philip the Bold decided to uproot it from Burgundy in favor of Pinot Noir, deeming it too rustic and too productive. But this decision, far from signaling its demise, ushered in a new era: it firmly established itself further south, in Beaujolais, where it found an ideal terroir to flourish.
A grape variety deeply rooted in Beaujolais
Today, Gamay is inextricably linked to Beaujolais. It covers about 98% of the vineyards in this region located between Mâcon and Lyon. There, it gives birth to wines that go far beyond the sometimes-reductive image of Beaujolais Nouveau. Thanks to the diversity of soils – granite, schist, clay, and sand – it reveals an astonishing palette of styles, from light, fruity, and easy-drinking wines to deep and structured cuvées, capable of aging for several decades.
Gamay is also present in the Loire Valley, where it offers lively red and rosé wines, notably in the Anjou, Touraine, Coteaux du Vendômois, and Cheverny appellations. In these cooler regions, it expresses a crisp personality, often marked by tart red fruits.
Beyond France, the grape variety has traveled. It is found in Switzerland, particularly around Lake Geneva, where it is often blended with Pinot Noir to produce the famous Dôle. There are also plantings in Canada, Oregon, New Zealand, and even Japan, proving that this grape retains international appeal.
Synonyms and denominations
Depending on the region, Gamay goes by different names. In the Loire Valley, it is sometimes called Gamay de Touraine. In Switzerland, it is simply referred to as "Gamay," but it is found in blends under the Dôle appellation. In some ancient texts, it is mentioned as Petit Gamay or Bourguignon Noir.
These variations do not alter its uniqueness: Gamay remains a typical grape variety of temperate climates, which thrives in granitic and sandy soils.
Physical description of the grape variety
Gamay is a vigorous, relatively productive vine, with early budding. Its bunches are medium to large, often conical and compact. The berries are round, an intense black-blue, covered with abundant bloom. Their skin is thin, which makes them susceptible to fungal diseases, but their pulp is juicy and sweet, yielding wines that are both generous and elegant.
The leaves are quite large, three-lobed, and a slightly shiny light green. Gamay's ripening is early to mid-season, making it a grape variety well suited to continental climates and sunny hillsides.
Viticultural particularities
Gamay is renowned for its productivity. It is a grape variety that can yield high harvests, sometimes at the expense of quality. But when managed – by limiting yields and favoring old vines rooted in poor soils – it reveals remarkable depth and finesse.
It is particularly well-suited to the granitic soils of Beaujolais, where it gives its purest expressions. On more clayey soils, it tends to produce heavier and less elegant wines. Vineyard management is therefore essential to get the most out of it.
Gamay is also the emblematic grape variety for carbonic maceration, a technique that involves fermenting whole bunches in a tank saturated with carbon dioxide. This method promotes the extraction of intense fruity aromas and soft tannins, resulting in easy-drinking wines that are enjoyable in their youth. But Gamay can also be vinified in a more traditional way, offering structured cuvées designed for aging.
A recognizable aromatic profile
Gamay seduces above all with its aromatic generosity. It is a grape variety that emphasizes fruit, with an explosion of notes of cherry, raspberry, strawberry, blackcurrant, and sometimes blackberry. Floral aromas (peony, violet) are also found, and, depending on the terroir, spicy touches (pepper, licorice) or mineral notes.
On the palate, it offers a supple attack, a light to medium texture, and a natural freshness that makes it particularly digestible. Young wines are generally supple, fruity, and easy to drink. But the cuvées from the Beaujolais crus, such as Morgon, Moulin-à-Vent, Côte de Brouilly, or Fleurie, show a completely different facet: a more assertive structure, present tannins, and impressive aging potential.
Wine styles produced
Light and fruity wines
In its simplest version, Gamay offers red wines without heaviness, lively and easy to drink. This style is typical of Beaujolais Villages or the famous Beaujolais Nouveau. These wines are best enjoyed young, often within a year of harvest, and are appealing for their cheerful and festive character.
The Beaujolais Crus
The ten Beaujolais crus – Morgon, Moulin-à-Vent, Fleurie, Juliénas, Chiroubles, Saint-Amour, Brouilly, Côte de Brouilly, Chénas, and Régnié – reveal the full complexity of Gamay. Each cru has its own identity. For example, Morgon produces powerful and full-bodied wines, capable of aging 10 to 20 years. Fleurie, on the other hand, produces more delicate and floral wines.
Rosé and sparkling wines
Gamay can also be vinified as a rosé, particularly in the Loire Valley, where it produces lively and fruity wines. It is also found in some Crémants, where its natural freshness is an asset for producing sparkling wines.
Natural wines
In the world of natural wines, Gamay holds a prominent place. Thanks to its vibrant fruit and freshness, it lends itself perfectly to winemaking without additives. Many winemakers in Beaujolais, pioneers of this movement, have helped give Gamay a modern and avant-garde image.
These wines appeal to a young and curious public who seek honest, lively, and easy-drinking cuvées. Gamay thus embodies a new way of approaching wine: less formal, more spontaneous, and resolutely geared towards sharing.
Food and wine pairings
Gamay is a table-friendly wine. Thanks to its lightness and freshness, it pairs with a wide variety of dishes.
Young and fruity wines pair well with charcuterie, simple dishes, grilled foods, and tapas.
More structured crus accompany red meats, roasted poultry, sauced dishes, and even some soft cheeses.
Rosé versions find their place as an aperitif, with summer salads or seafood.
Its versatility makes it a convivial wine, always suitable for meals with friends as well as for formal dinners.
Aging potential
Contrary to popular belief, Gamay can age. While Beaujolais Nouveaux and light cuvées should be drunk quickly, the Beaujolais crus can evolve magnificently over time. A Moulin-à-Vent or a Morgon can be kept for 10, 15, or even 20 years, developing aromas of stewed fruit, spices, and undergrowth.
Gamay across Europe and the world
While France remains its birthplace and its privileged territory, Gamay has successfully seduced other vineyards. In Switzerland, it is widely cultivated in the canton of Geneva and in Valais, where it is blended with Pinot Noir to produce harmonious wines.
In New Zealand, on the North Island, it produces crisp and fruity reds. In Canada, in Ontario and British Columbia, it offers light wines, perfectly suited to the climate. Even in Japan, some plots are dedicated to this grape variety, to meet a growing local demand.
Gamay and natural wines
In the world of natural wines, Gamay has become a flagship grape variety. Its vibrant aromas and drinkability make it a perfect ally for winemaking without sulfur and without artifice. Many winemakers in Beaujolais, pioneers of this movement, have helped give Gamay a modern and avant-garde image.
These wines appeal to a young and curious public who seek honest, lively, and easy-drinking cuvées. Gamay thus embodies a new way of approaching wine: less formal, more spontaneous, and resolutely geared towards sharing.
Conclusion: the wine of conviviality
Gamay is unfairly underestimated and deserves to be rediscovered. Capable of producing both simple and gourmet wines as well as deep and ambitious cuvées, it embodies the diversity and richness of French viticulture.
Whether it's a cheerful Beaujolais Nouveau, a delicate Fleurie, or a powerful Morgon, each glass tells a story: that of a generous grape, rooted in its terroirs and always faithful to its identity.
Gamay is above all a wine of pleasure, a wine of sharing, a wine that brings people together. Its freshness, lightness, and fruit make it the very expression of conviviality.
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59 products
Je t'aime moi non plus Sparkling Rosé 2024,
A natural sparkling wine that plays with emotions, "Je t'aime moi non plus" is a sparkling rosé by La Tribu Alonso, designed as a tribute to the sensuality and spontaneity of Gamay. Coming from a sunny granite terroir in Beaujolais, this festive and delicately fruity wine is produced using the ancestral method, offering a fine and delicious bubble, both fresh and velvety.
A seductive and airy Pet' Nat’
Made from three Gamay varieties (Vialla, Troye and Gascon), this wine seduces with its finesse and low alcohol content (8.5%), making it a perfect ally for moments of sharing without heaviness. The ancestral method, which consists of bottling the juice during fermentation, gives it a natural effervescence and a beautiful liveliness on the palate.
A delicate and captivating bouquet
Upon opening, the nose reveals a delicious blend of fresh raspberry, bright citrus fruits and juicy pear, with a slightly floral touch. On the palate, the velvety texture envelops the palate while retaining a refreshing acidity that perfectly balances its fruity generosity.
An ideal companion for an aperitif
With its fine bubbles and vibrant freshness, "Je t’aime moi non plus" is the perfect companion for convivial moments. Served between 10 and 12°C, it can be enjoyed as an aperitif, but also pairs wonderfully with light dishes such as tapas, seafood, or a strawberry and basil salad. Enjoy now or keep for up to 5 years to explore its evolution.
L'air de Rien Sparkling Rosé 2020
Jérome Lambert
Despite its name, L'Air de rien is not lacking in air, as it has a healthy dose of bubbles, effervescence, pleasure, and color. This is a sparkling natural rosé with a beautiful light color, Montmorency cherry, crushed strawberry. Intensely refreshing with delicate mineral aromas and quite a few small red fruits, ennobled by a gentle bitterness that adds an extra dimension to this beautiful wine with sweet orange peel on the finish. This lovely and tender pet'nat' comes from a hand-harvested Gamay grape growing on schist and clay-limestone soils. The harvest is processed by direct pressing and the wine is aged on lees before disgorging.
To find out more
On his four-hectare estate, entirely organic and planted with Chenin, Grolleau, Gamay and Cabernet Franc, Jérôme is as much a winemaker as he is a farmer: he raises chickens, pigs, sheep and takes this mixed crop-livestock activity very seriously, coupled with the production of typical Anjou charcuterie. His Loire Eden, in fact, is located in the south of Anjou, in Rablay-sur-Layon. The son of a winemaker, as a child, he already enjoyed picking grapes, crushing them and letting them ferment. The desire to make wine has never left him, in fact: in 2003, he got his hands dirty, took part in pruning the vines at Philippe Cesbron's and took the opportunity to try his hand at some grapes donated by local winegrowers. The following year, his adventure really began with twenty ares of vines, but although his estate grew year by year, it would not reach one hectare for another fifteen years. In 2003, he discovered that adding sulfite was detrimental to the wines: he never added more and was completely satisfied with the result, without making too much noise about it around him. It was only a little later that he learned about the existence of natural wines and understood that he was not alone. All his vintages since then have been without added sulfur, and are nonetheless straightforward, drinkable and flawless. For him, even the wood of the barrels is an additive; This shows the attention he pays to the naturalness and truth of the vine.
Le Blouge à Nestor Rouge 2022
Domaine Bélicard
With Le Blouge à Nestor 2022, Domaine Bélicard offers us a unique cuvée, resolutely natural, free, and unconventional. The name says it all: a "blouge," a joyful contraction of white (blanc) and red (rouge), made from a blend of Gamay and Chardonnay, both organically grown in Beaujolais. A wine without artifice, to be shared without hesitation.
Here, the focus is on infusion: the hand-harvested grapes are vinified in whole bunches, with semi-carbonic fermentation that preserves all the freshness of the fruit. Maceration is short (about one month), then the wine is aged in wooden vats, with total respect for the juice, without any oenological inputs, using indigenous yeasts and very little, if any, sulfites.
In the glass, Le Blouge à Nestor seduces with its light, almost cloudy ruby color. The nose evokes fresh red fruits, kirsch cherry, spicy notes, and a floral touch. The palate is supple, fluid, incredibly easy-drinking but not simplistic. There's a beautiful liveliness, a light body, melted tannins, and a slightly spicy finish.
This is a wine made for aperitifs with friends, fine charcuterie, a warm salad, tapas, or simply for opening a good bottle without a specific occasion. Le Blouge is pure pleasure in a bottle, with that artisanal and sincere touch one expects from a well-made natural wine.
Domaine de Bois-Moisset
YARD x Bois Moisset Cuvée (exclusive cuvée) Red 2024
1500
€15,00
Unit price perDomaine de Bois-Moisset
YARD x Bois Moisset Cuvée (exclusive cuvée) Red 2024
1500
€15,00
Unit price perYARD x Bois Moisset Cuvée (exclusive cuvée) Red 2024
Terroir, plot size and grape varieties
Born in the vibrant Gaillac region, the YARD x Bois Moisset Rouge 2024 is an ode to the diversity of the ancestral grape varieties of Southwest France. In this free-spirited cuvée, classified as a Vin de France, Domaine Bois Moisset skillfully blends three emblematic varieties: Braucol, with its rustic and wild character; Duras, vibrant and spicy; and a touch of Gamay, which rounds out the whole with its fruity freshness. This bold combination, conceived as a nod to local roots as much as to contemporary tastes, expresses a sun-drenched clay-limestone terroir, which gives the wine its power and purity.
Cultivation methods
At Domaine Bois Moisset, the vine is first and foremost a living ally, respected in its rhythm and needs. Certified organic, the vineyard management excludes all artifice: here, the soils breathe, nourished by natural compost, carefully worked, and the vines are observed, listened to, and supported rather than constrained. The harvest is done by hand, guaranteeing meticulous sorting and intact bunches. In the cellar, the winemaking follows the same philosophy: minimal intervention, indigenous yeasts, gentle extraction to preserve the fruit and reveal the texture, without masking the soul of the grape. The result is a sincere, deeply rooted wine that speaks of humanity as much as of nature.
Tasting & pairings
The YARD x Bois Moisset Rouge Cuvée reveals itself in an intense, luminous, and deep ruby robe. The nose opens with a frank and charming bouquet of ripe red fruits—cherry, strawberry, redcurrant—enhanced by peppery notes and a slightly smoky touch, a signature of the Duras and Braucol grape varieties. On the palate, the attack is lively and juicy, then the structure takes hold: present but integrated tannins give the wine its character and poise. The long finish leaves a spicy and luscious impression, full of vitality.
It's the perfect companion for convivial moments: a barbecue with friends, grilled lamb chops, a ribeye steak cooked over a wood fire, or even oriental-inspired cuisine with mild spices. Structured and generous, this vintage invites sharing and warmth, while allowing the fruit and terroir to fully express themselves.
The YARD Rouge 2024 Cuvée by Bois Moisset is not just a wine: it is an outstretched hand, an invitation to rediscover Gaillac in a free and vibrant light.
Jour de Fête Sparkling Rosé 2019
Marie and Vincent Tricot
You pour it, pour it, pour it again, and you're amazed to have emptied the bottle. This organic, natural sparkling rosé wine doesn't bear this name for nothing. Made using the ancestral method (bottling during fermentation, which completes in the container), Jour de Fête is a seductive natural sparkling wine made from Gamay d'Auvergne that doesn't lend itself to melancholy. It displays a deep, slightly cloudy strawberry-raspberry color that already invites indulgence. On the nose, cherry, raspberry, and the promise of a vinous and concentrated sparkling wine, not just a gurgling experience. It can be described as both gurgling and complex.
The cherry, raspberry, redcurrant and strawberry are confirmed on the palate with a great deal of sweetness and indulgence, a little sugar reminiscent of the raspberry fruit paste from Auvergne, and the slight bitterness of the volcanic soil Gamay in the background. The effervescence is moderate, we also perceive citrus notes (orange, mandarin) and the floral notes are then revealed with a touch of violet. The roundness is pleasant, the freshness is exceptional. Made from Gamays grown on hillsides on volcanic and clay-limestone soils, Jour de fête is truly exceptional and as joyful and festive as its label promises.
To find out more
Among the generation of Auvergne winemakers who, at the dawn of the 21st century, are reviving the vineyards of this beautiful volcanic province of the Massif Central from the ashes using organic and natural methods, Marie and Vincent Tricot are pioneers, and their name is well known to those who have long loved natural wine. After a colorful winemaking journey that took them from Beaujolais to Chile and from Chile to Costières-de-Nîmes, they landed in Auvergne, at the foot of the Puy de Dôme, in the commune of Orcet where they took over Claude Prugnard's vineyard, a land that has not seen the slightest chemical input for thirty years. The estate is located on a hillside on the left bank of the Allier River, in a volcanic clay-limestone area near the vineyards of Châteaugay, Chanturgue, and Corent. They acquired it in 2003 and have since been making wines from Auvergne Gamay, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir, with a little Sauvignon Blanc and Muscat. These rare and sought-after wines are mainly sold directly. They have a straightforward, flamboyant profile and express themselves with as much character as simplicity.
Le Rocher rouge 2018,
This infinitely silky and luscious red, mineral and very straightforward, is a Beaujolais-Villages that is ideally enjoyed between 14 and 16°C. It is made from Beaujolais Gamay grapes grown in the Combe Fleurette area, at an altitude of 550 meters and on an average 40% slope, facing south, on a plot of blue granite with very shallow soil. The vines, twenty-five years old, rest on a rocky outcrop. The harvest is aged in whole bunches for forty days with regular turning. After pressing, the young wine is aged on fine lees in Burgundy oak barrels. Bottling is done in the waning moon, without fining or filtration.
Find out more
Nicolas Chemarin, nicknamed "P'tit Grobis" as a resident of Marchampt (Beaujolais), is the fourth generation of winemaker on his family wine estate in the Beaujolais-Villages appellation, on stony land where he crafts wines of surprising depth and sincerity. In 2005, he took over two hectares of his father's vines and in 2006 he produced his first vintages. In 2008, he acquired other vines and decided to devote himself solely to his estate, whose very steep terroir consists of poor, rocky soils on gray granite rock. The vines rest on the bedrock through very thin soil, and their roots plunge deep into the rock. Depending on the configuration of the soil, the vines are pruned in goblet or raised on stakes. Their average age is eighty years. The grape varieties, Gamay and Chardonnay, are classically Beaujolais. Nicolas also cultivates two other terroirs in the Régnié appellation: Les Bullats, with light, filtering sandy soils, and La Haute Ronze, very close to Morgon, whose deeper, clayey soils produce full-bodied wines. The vintages undergo long macerations (from 18 to 30 days) with punching down and temperature control (Nicolas works cold, around 20°C). The aging is done partially in thermoregulated concrete vats for a third, the remaining two thirds passing into barrels of four to ten wines in order to provide oxygenation but little or no woody sensation. Nicolas Chemarin is already very well known in the natural world for his sweet and fruity vintages, wines of pleasure, and for vintages from difficult and magnificent terroirs, provided with admirable and complex mineral, aromatic and spicy notes.
Magnum P'tit Nouveau Gamay - Red - 2019
Vincent Wallard
This is an all-gamay carbonic maceration extracted from grapes from the Jean-François Debourg estate in southern Beaujolais. Fresh and crisp, it offers beautiful notes of red fruits (cherry). Decanting is required to allow its sweet and gourmet qualities to express themselves.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.
Les Vignes de Jeannot Red 2017
This red wine from the Beaujolais-Villages appellation (of course, 100% Gamay), offering a more than reasonable price-quality ratio, comes from old vines that belonged to Jean Chemarin, ancestor of our current winemaker: hence the name on the label. A freshness that is explained by the altitude of the plot (450 meters). This wine has undergone two years of aging, half in vats and the other half in Burgundy barrels. He is charming, captivating, fruity, with beautiful notes of strawberry.
Find out more
Nicolas Chemarin, nicknamed "P'tit Grobis" as a resident of Marchampt (Beaujolais), is the fourth generation of winemaker on his family wine estate in the Beaujolais-Villages appellation, on a land full of stones where he crafts wines of surprising depth and sincerity. In 2005, he took over two hectares of vines from his father and in 2006 he signed his first vintages. In 2008, he acquired other vines and decided to devote himself solely to his estate, whose terroir, very steep, consists of rocky and poor soils on a gray granite rock. The vines rest on the bedrock through very thin soil, and their roots plunge deep into the rock. Depending on the soil configuration, the vines are pruned in goblet or raised on stakes. Their average age is eighty years. The grape varieties, Gamay and Chardonnay, are classically Beaujolais. Nicolas also cultivates two other terroirs in the Régnié appellation: Les Bullats, with light, filtering sandy soils, and La Haute Ronze, very close to Morgon, whose deeper, clayey soils produce full-bodied wines. The vintages undergo long macerations (from 18 to 30 days) with punching down and temperature control (Nicolas works cold, around 20°C). Aging is partially done in temperature-controlled concrete vats for a third, the remaining two-thirds being spent in barrels of four to ten wines to provide oxygenation but little or no oaky sensation. Nicolas Chemarin is already well known in the natural world for his sweet and fruity vintages, pleasure wines, and for vintages from difficult and magnificent terroirs, with admirable and complex mineral, aromatic and spicy notes.
Morgon Corcelette 2023
Jean Foillard is an emblematic figure of Beaujolais, recognized for his natural and intuitive approach to both the vineyard and the cellar. In Villié-Morgon, for several decades, he has been crafting wines of remarkable purity, deeply rooted in their terroir. His work is inspired by nature, with absolute respect for the soil, the grapes, and the natural rhythm of things.
Morgon Corcelette 2023 is one of the finest expressions from the Foillard estate. Made from old vines on sandy granitic soils, this cuvée embodies the delicacy of the Corcelette climate, while offering depth and vibrant energy. It is a wine that combines floral elegance with mineral intensity.
Upon opening, the wine reveals a pure nose of fresh cherry, raspberry, and peony. The palate is fluid, silky, marked by beautiful tension and very fine tannins. The finish, full of freshness, leaves a delicately spicy imprint.
This Morgon Corcelette 2023 pairs perfectly with roasted poultry with herbs, grilled fish fillet, or fragrant vegetarian cuisine. Serve it slightly chilled to fully appreciate its freshness and brilliance. A wine that is both gourmet and subtle, ideal for friendly and refined meals.
Beaujolais Lancié, Red 2020
Domaine Bélicard
This Beaujolais Villages cuvée from Domaine Bélicard embodies a more mature and profound version of Gamay, thanks to a sunny vintage and extended aging in large oak casks. A natural, authentic wine, 100% Gamay noir, drawing its structure and tension from the granite soils of Lancié, in the heart of Beaujolais.
Noble aging for vibrant fruit
Vinified in whole bunches, with a short maceration to preserve the grape's vibrancy, this wine undergoes spontaneous fermentation, without any oenological additives. The particularity of this 2020 version lies in its 8-month aging in large oak casks, a noble container that respects the fruit while bringing complexity and depth. This choice gives birth to a more accomplished cuvée, capable of aging while remaining pleasant in its youth.
A supple yet characterful red
The nose opens with candied red fruits, enhanced by sweet spices and a kirsch-like touch typical of well-ripened Gamay. On the palate, the attack is full, the texture velvety, supported by a beautiful mineral freshness. The balance is there: roundness, depth, and drinkability unite without heaviness.
For aperitif or more, if you wish
Serve between 14 and 16 °C, this Beaujolais Lancié 2020 expresses itself equally well alone as an aperitif or paired with stewed dishes, roasted white meats, or artisanal charcuterie. A lively wine to drink now or to keep for up to 5 years.
Lulu Red 2022 Magnum
Lulu, here in magnum format, is a highly sought-after cuvée from Patrick Bouju, an Auvergne winemaker deeply attached to his terroir and his old Gamay d'Auvergne vines. An organic, natural red wine with no added sulfites, it is one of its creator's most iconic and sought-after vintages. Classified as a Vin de France. The magnum amplifies and deepens its character.
Vinification
Lulu comes from a basalt plot in Corent, planted with very old Gamay d'Auvergne vines over seventy years old. The soil is worked biodynamically and with animal traction on a basalt terroir. The destemmed harvest macerates for five months in whole bunches. It is aged for one year in sandstone amphorae.
Tasting
Lulu is at once distinguished, complex, charming and easy to drink. The fruit, round, opulent and slightly candied (blackberry, morello cherry), gives way on the palate to a lively, slightly saline minerality, with just the right touch of astringency and spice. It is a delicious and velvety cuvée, with animal and spicy notes, where the red fruits are generously expressed. Decanting recommended. Pairing: anything good goes with a good wine. Grilled meats, pounti, Auvergne cuisine, Red meats, charcuterie…
Learn more about Patrick Bouju and the La Bohème estate
Near Billom, the Tuscany of Auvergne, once covered in vines, is the privileged domain of Gamay d'Auvergne, an ancient strain of the grape variety. It is here, on these volcanic soils, that Patrick Bouju works, mainly with old vines.
Viticulture and trade
Patrick breathes new life into the often abandoned terroirs of Puy-de-Dôme and its indigenous grape varieties. Under the La Bohème estate, he operates as a wine merchant using purchased organic grapes. His exclusive Culinaries partnerships are famous: with Action Bronson for the series A la Natural, with Jason Ligas in Greece for Sous le Végétal…
A winemaker who lends a helping hand
The current renaissance of the Auvergne vineyard (which was once the third largest in France) owes a lot to Patrick. The fact that he likes to lend a hand to his winemaker friends in France and elsewhere only confirms his image as a role model, a leader. Its noble, chiseled, distinguished, never trivial wines are immediately recognizable in the glass.
Morgon 2023
Jean Foillard embodies the soul of authentic, vibrant, and unadorned Morgon. From his estate in Villié-Morgon, he crafts natural wines that reveal the beauty of Gamay and the richness of the Beaujolais terroirs. His artisanal approach highlights the balance between fruit, freshness, and sincerity.
Morgon 2023 is the estate's entry-level cuvée, but it is far from simple: it's a superb introduction to the world of Foillard. Sourced from various parcels on the Morgon hillsides, it offers a harmonious expression of the cru, balancing immediate fruitiness with underlying depth. A free-spirited, digestible, and radiant cuvée.
The nose is fresh and juicy, dominated by crisp red berries, redcurrant, and cherry, with a delicate floral note. On the palate, the wine is fluid and flavorful, driven by a beautiful acidity and supple tannins. A pleasurable wine, all finesse, to drink young or in the next few years.
This Morgon 2023 will wonderfully complement a charcuterie board, a vegetable quiche, or grilled chicken with herbs. It also lends itself to more spontaneous pairings, such as homemade pizza or a warm salad. Served slightly chilled, it reveals all its convivial and gourmet character.
Chateau Roulant Red 20/21
Benoit Camus
Château Roulant is a Beaujolais red wine, organic and natural (Ecocert certified), made from Gamay. Classified as a Vin de France, it is produced by Benoît Camus at his Pierre Dorées estate, in the south of the appellation. Its name evokes the itinerant life once led by the winemaker, a former seasonal agricultural worker.
Vinification
The Gamay vines of Beaujolais grow on clay-limestone soils. The very steep plots prohibit any mechanized work. The harvest, carried out by hand, undergoes a three-week semi-carbonic maceration. The wine is aged in concrete vats for fifteen months.
Tasting
The Beaujolais wines from Pierre Dorées are structured, long-lasting, and beautifully fruity. Here, after admiring a bright garnet color, we find strawberry, raspberry, red cherry, and cranberry, with a beautiful acidity in the mid-palate giving way to a rich and voluptuous finish. Freshness and acidity, leather, earth, and some animal notes. Wonderful richness in the mouth that we will enjoy accompanying with cold meats and cured meats, poultry such as pigeon or duck. Or even Red Meats .
Learn more about Benoît Camus
You might think he's itinerant, with his vintages called "Château roulant" or "Vagabond", but for Benoît Camus, it's a memory of his previous life, when he was a seasonal farmer in the Rhône Valley and as far as Roussillon. Since 2003, he has settled in Southern Beaujolais, in the Pierres Dorées terroir, to make organic (Ecocert) and natural wines.
Nature before, nature always
Before purchasing his seven-hectare estate from an old winemaker, the vines had not yet seen pesticides or chemical additives. Many in Beaujolais worked this way. He made his first vintage in 2006, "natural without knowing it," he says. A brief attempt at chemical spraying to treat grape worm definitively dissuaded him from adding anything to the vineyard or the cellar. He acquired Ecocert organic certification and continues to make natural wines.
The Pierre Dorées terroir
The southern Beaujolais, with its clay-limestone soils, produces wines that are more structured and powerful than those from the granite soils of the North. This is the profile presented by the reds of Benoît Camus, natural wines that are straight, dense and long-aging, with good acidity and well-integrated tannins, not forgetting abundant, rich and seductive fruit.
Fleurie Red 2022,
Domaine Bélicard
Within the Fleurie AOP, an emblematic terroir of Beaujolais, Domaine Bélicard produces wines of great elegance, faithful to the expression of Gamay Noir. Certified organic (AB, Eurofeuille), this cuvée comes from 39-year-old vines planted on granite soils, providing both finesse and structure.
A powerful and structured Fleurie
Vinified according to Beaujolais tradition, with whole-bunch maceration, this wine benefits from 10 months of barrel aging, which refines its tannins and enriches its aromatic palette. This meticulous work gives the 2022 vintage a beautiful tannic structure, while respecting the purity of the fruit.
An expressive nose and a fleshy palate
On the nose, this organic Fleurie reveals intense aromas of ripe red fruits, accompanied by a subtle woody touch. On the palate, the attack is ample, the tannins very present, bringing a beautiful body and a persistent finish. This balance between fruit and structure makes it a wine of character, made for aging.
Served at 14-16°C, this Fleurie AOP is ideal with grilled red meats, game birds or even roast veal. Its structure also allows it to be enjoyed as an aperitif, alongside fine charcuterie. With an aging potential of 5 years, it will gain in complexity and finesse over time.
Promess Red 2017
Made from ninety-year-old Gamay vines planted on clay-limestone soils, this fresh, deep, and smooth wine is aged in barrels. It has excellent aging potential.
Natural wine with no added sulfites. 1200
Le Rocher red 2017
Le Rocher is made from Beaujolais Gamay grapes grown in the Combe Fleurette area, at an altitude of 550 meters and on an average 40% slope, facing south, on a plot of blue granite with very shallow soil. The 25-year-old vines rest on a rocky outcrop. The harvest is left to vat for 40 days in whole bunches with regular turning. After pressing, the young wine is aged on fine lees in Burgundy oak barrels. Bottling is done in the waning moon, without fining or filtration. This infinitely silky and delicious red, very mineral and very straight, will accompany meats in sauce, noble fish and even chocolate desserts.
Tasting temperature: between 14 and 16 °C.
Natural wine without added sulfites.
Beaujolais Villages Smack (exclusive cuvée) Red 2023,
A vibrant tribute to the freshness and distinctive character of Gamay
The Beaujolais Villages Smack 2023, produced by Nicolas Chemarin, is an exclusive cuvée that captures the essence of the granite terroir of Beaujolais. Made from 100% Gamay, this AOC Beaujolais Villages red wine is distinguished by its liveliness, elegance, and modern take on tradition. It is vinified using ancestral methods, with a 15-day semi-carbonic maceration carried out with whole bunches, followed by careful aging for 11 months in concrete vats.
A fresh and expressive tasting
The Smack 2023 seduces from the moment it opens with its bright aromas of strawberry, raspberry and crisp red fruits, enhanced by subtle floral and vegetal notes. On the palate, it offers a supple and silky texture, supported by a lively acidity that gives it an irresistible freshness. The delicate and persistent finish perfectly reflects the characteristics of Gamay and the mineral nuances of the granite soils.
An ideal companion for conviviality and gastronomy
This versatile cuvée pairs perfectly with a wide range of dishes. It will enhance fine charcuterie, white meats such as roast chicken, or more rustic dishes such as poultry stew. Its freshness and fruitiness also make it an ideal choice for an aperitif with friends or casual meals.
Served between 12 and 14°C, without the need for decanting, Beaujolais Villages Smack is ready to be enjoyed today. Its aging potential of 5 years will also allow you to appreciate its evolution, with deeper and more complex aromas.
Ambre Dissolved Red 2023
La Tribu Alonso
Ambre Dissolved is an organic and natural red wine without added sulfites, made in Beaujolais by Cyril Alonso. It is a 100% Gamay grape made from several varieties of this grape and classified as a Vin de France. Its name alludes to the soft clocks painted by Salvador Dalí in his painting Persistence of Memory. According to Dalí, purple is the most harmonious of colors: it is also the color of Ambre Dissolved. A discreet allusion to the surrealist painter appears on the label.
Vinification
The Gamays from which Ambre Dissolve is made, grown organically, grow on a 3-are plot on granite soil with wild grass, in agroforestry and without plowing. Pruned in goblet form, they are four varieties of Gamay teinturiers (i.e., Gamays with black skin and red juice, giving a great density of color to the wine): Gamay de Bouze, Gamay de Troye, Gamay de Fréaux and Gamay de Chaudenay. Harvested by hand, the grapes undergo a five-day semicarbonic maceration, without a starter culture, and ferment with indigenous yeasts. Alcoholic and malolactic fermentations follow one another in fiberglass vats. No additives are added, no sulfites at bottling.
Tasting
Despite a short vatting period, Ambre Dissolved is a very sanguine, mineral, ferrous, slightly earthy and very rustic wine. The color is intense, the nose is spicy, the palate offers a beautiful texture. A very pure, balanced wine, offering a beautiful balance between fruit and minerality. To be paired imperatively with red meats: roasted, grilled, pan-fried, braised or cured. It is a beef wine. It will also appreciate Lyonnaise charcuterie and all regional dishes.
Learn more about the Alonso Tribe
This tribal name refers to Cyril Alonso, winemaker, his wife, naturopath, and their family. They take care, using organic farming methods, of a conservatory of traditional grape varieties from the Rhône-Alpes region located in Marchampt (Rhône), in the heart of the Beaujolais Vert region. This two-and-a-half-hectare ampel library, which has existed since 1952, contained forty grape varieties. It currently contains one hundred and forty. This unique location gives the Tribu Alonso wines their particular style. Instead of being single-varietal microcuvées, they are quite the opposite: wines by grape variety family, either a Chardonnay containing all the Chardonnays of the house or a multi-Gamay Gamay.
A biotope classified in 2008
The estate enjoys a unique ecological location: the house and the vineyard are surrounded by untouched forests, on the steep terrain of northern Beaujolais. Three rivers cross it, and the vines, close to the bedrock, capture all the minerality of the soil. Organic farming is practiced and the work, both in the vineyard and in the cellar, is entirely manual, without the use of any chemical additives or sulfites in the winemaking process.
The wines
Cuvées of co-plantation (and for good reason), the wines of the Tribu Alonso embrace all the complexity of their grape varieties and the viticultural history of Beaujolais. These are carefully crafted wines, made with great care, fermented and aged to the sound of Tibetan bowls, whose alpha waves are beneficial to the liquids. The vatting periods are short, to preserve the freshness and fruit, as well as the signature of the soil and grape varieties.
Morgon Côte de Py 2023
Jean Foillard is one of the great names in natural Beaujolais, established in Villié-Morgon since the 1980s. Guided by an artisanal approach, he produces lively, straightforward, and expressive wines, always true to their terroir. Each cuvée bears his signature: purity of fruit, subtle aging, and absolute respect for the soil.
Morgon Côte du Py 2023 is the estate's flagship cuvée, from the famous volcanic hillside overlooking the village. This terroir, rich in schist and manganese, produces an intense, structured, and deeply rooted wine. In 2023, the cuvée combines power, freshness, and finesse with remarkable energy.
The nose opens with aromas of ripe black fruits, licorice, and violet, with a slight smoky touch. On the palate, the wine is ample, deep, with an elegant tannic structure and a beautiful mineral length. It is a Morgon with character, built for aging, but already very appealing in its youth.
Serve this Côte du Py 2023 with roasted meat, duck breast, or a mushroom sauce dish. It will also perfectly complement more rustic cuisine such as a fine rib steak or a gratin dauphinois. A gastronomic wine, to be enjoyed at a grand table.
Fleurie Grand Pré, Magnum Red 2018
Domaine Bélicard
Fleurie Grand-Pré 2018 – Domaine Bélicard (Magnum)
In magnum format, this Fleurie Grand-Pré 2018 by Domaine Bélicard gains in depth and aging potential. Made from Gamay noir grown on sandy soils in the Fleurie appellation, this organic red wine combines floral finesse, crisp fruit, and subtle structure. A natural cuvée, vinified without inputs, which reveals the delicacy of the cru in a serious and generous version.
Precise winemaking for an expressive Gamay
The grapes are harvested at full ripeness, then macerated for two weeks to develop a beautiful structure without excess. Fermentation takes place with indigenous yeasts, without added sulfites, before an eight-month aging period in used barrels, which brings complexity and texture without masking the fruit.
A floral nose, a crisp and silky palate
The bouquet immediately seduces: peony, violet, then blackberry, blackcurrant, and juicy dark fruit. On the palate, the texture is elegant, the tannins fine, with a beautiful tension that balances everything. A subtle woody note completes the palette, adding depth without masking the wine's natural freshness.
A bottle for special occasions
This magnum can be enjoyed now at 14–16 °C, without decanting, with a fine cut of meat, grilled fish, candied vegetables, or as an aperitif for enlightened connoisseurs. It can age for 5 to 7 years without losing its brilliance. An elegant and age-worthy Fleurie, in a convivial large format.
