About this WINE
Domaine Metrat
Metrat is a small domaine that has small parcels of vines spread across several communes in Beaujolais. It is owned and run by Bernard Métrat and his father-in-law Michel Chevalier.
This is a traditional domaine with the Gamay grapes being hand-harvested and then undergoing a short fermentation of 6-7 days. The wines are then aged in wooden casks for 6-9 months.
Fleurie is one of the ten Cru villages located at the northern end of the gently rolling and extremely photogenic hills of the Beaujolais appellation. The poetry of the nomenclature, allied to the beauty of the terrain, with dreamy views of the Alpes, have helped to built its reputation as the most aromatic and elegant of village wines.
The granitic sub-soil of the famous 'Roilette' lieu-dit, allied to a whole-bunch fermentation for its Gamay grapes, are the building blocks that have enabled M Metrat fils (Bernard) to construct one of the best wines in the appellation in its Fleurie, VV Roilette.
Gamay
A French variety planted predominately in Beaujolais where it is the grape behind everything from light and often acidic Beaujolais Nouveau through to the more serious and well-structured wines from the 10 cru villages. It takes its name from a hamlet just outside Chassagne-Montrachet and was at one stage widely planted on the Côte d`Or. However it was gradually phased out due to its poor yield and supposed poor quality of its wines.
The majority of Gamay wines in Beaujolais are labelled as Beaujolais or Beaujolais-Villages and are deliciously juicy, easy drinking, gulpable wines. Of more interest are the Cru wines from the 10 villages in the north of the region where the soil is predominantly granitic schist and where the vines are planted on gently undulating slopes. These can be well-structured, intensely perfumed wines, redolent of ripe black fruits and, while delicious young, will reward medium term cellaring.
Gamay is also grown in the Touraine region of the Loire where it produces soft, well-balanced, gluggable wines for drinking young.
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Description
From vines planted in 1924 and 1936. Very dense purple colour, dense and explosive fruit on the nose, a huge bag of energy. Seductive weight, more vibrant fruit, still quite dark in style, very good length. This lovely wine combines power and juiciness. Drink 2014-2017.
Bernard began picking on 30th September so 2013 was effectively an October harvest. The year began with a poor spring, but a decent summer, including September, has enabled the vintage to come out well in the end. Bernard compares the style to 2010, lots of concentration but very closed in youth.
Jasper Morris, Wine Buyer
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