Jean Foillard

Jean Foillard

An emblematic figure in natural Beaujolais, Jean Foillard crafts Morgon wines of rare purity and finesse. Located in Villié-Morgon, he cultivates his organic vineyards on the appellation's most beautiful terroirs—Côte du Py, Corcelette—without chemical inputs. In the cellar, he vinifies with little to no sulfur, using carbonic maceration, to allow the Gamay grape to express its true character. His wines are vibrant, silky, luminously intense, and always driven by brilliant fruit.

Tous ses vins

4 products

Morgon Corcelette 2023
Jean Foillard

Morgon Corcelette 2023

€38,00

Morgon 2023
Jean Foillard

Morgon 2023

€30,00

Morgon Côte de Py 2023
Jean Foillard

Morgon Côte de Py 2023

€38,00

Where?

Jean Foillard is a legendary figure in natural wine in France, based in Villié-Morgon, in the heart of the Morgon appellation in Beaujolais. It was there, in this small wine village north of Lyon, that he took over the family estate in the early 1980s and developed an emblematic wine style, deeply rooted in its terroir while remaining free, spontaneous, and lively.

Terroir, plots, and grape variety

The estate spans fifteen to twenty hectares of vines spread mainly over the most renowned terroirs of Morgon, notably Côte du Py and Corcelette, but also on the neighboring appellation of Fleurie.

The soils of Côte du Py are made of schist and pink granite, these ancient granite massifs that give the wines depth, minerality, and finesse. The Corcelette plots, a little lighter, produce Morgons with delicate tannins and expressive fruit.

As for the grape variety, there is only one on the estate: Gamay noir à jus clair, king of Beaujolais wines. Some rare cuvées come from very old vines, often planted more than 40 to 60 years ago, which brings concentration and complexity to the wines.

Cultivation methods

Jean Foillard is one of the pioneers of the natural wine movement. Inspired by Jules Chauvet and his friend Marcel Lapierre, he cultivates his vines respecting the principles of organic, even biodynamic agriculture, without herbicides or chemical pesticides.

Harvests are entirely manual, carried out at the optimal maturity of the grapes, which is essential for his minimalist approach. The idea is to let the soil, indigenous yeasts, and fruit express themselves without artifice.

Winemaking

Winemaking at Jean Foillard's estate is a true signature: whole-cluster carbonic maceration, mainly natural fermentation, very little or no sulfur, no fining, and no filtration.

The grapes enter the vat whole, at low temperature, and fermentation often lasts several weeks. This traditional Beaujolais approach produces vibrant, fruit-rich, digestible wines of remarkable purity.

For certain cuvées, especially the deeper ones, aging takes place in old oak barrels, without new wood, adding a delicate texture and greater depth without masking the fruit.

The wines

Jean Foillard produces a range of natural red wines, all based on Gamay, reflecting the subtle expressions of each plot:

Morgon "Classique" – a joyful, fresh, fruity, balanced wine, perfect for discovering his style.
Morgon Corcelette – more elegant, with fine tannins and floral aromas, reflecting a lighter granitic terroir.
Morgon Côte du Py – the iconic cuvée: depth, purity, minerality, and great finesse, often mellowing with time.

In addition, there are sometimes Beaujolais Villages, Beaujolais "nouveau" or even some experiments like a Fleurie or special cuvées depending on the vintage.

Foillard's wines are renowned for their fruit intensity, lively freshness, vibrant texture, and subtle balance, making them a must-have for all lovers of fine natural Gamays.

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