Morgon

A new name for what was previously known as Vignes de Thulon, Jean-Marc felt he wanted to speak more about the excellent village of Lantignié, which is being touted as the 11th Cru of Beaujolais. As ever, this is made in the traditional Beaujolais fashion, with whole bunches macerated for a week in open concrete tanks to preserve the purity of fruit. The nose is gorgeously perfumed, with a heady mix of floral and red berry notes, while the palate explodes with crunchy cherry fruit and ends on a satisfying, mouth-watering finish.
Adam Bruntlett, Wine Buyer

This cuvée is utterly gorgeous in 2016. Its aromas of flowers and red berries are characteristic of the vintage (’15 centred on darker fruit) but also point to the location of the vines, in the climat of Douby, adjacent to Fleury. With mouth-watering acidity and satisfying grip to the mid-palate, La Voute Saint-Vincent ‘16 is a heaven-made made match for charcuterie.
Will Heslop, Wine Buyer

Established in 1989, Domaine Jean-Marc Burgaud today comprises 18.5 hectares, the majority in the Cru of Morgon. Jean-Marc considers his Côte du Py the cuvée most representative of Morgon’s singularities. From 50-year-old, south-facing vines in soils of blue schist, it combines great concentration – of tannins and ripe black fruit – with a clear mineral thread, and is exceptionally age-worthy. It was harvested first among Jean-Marc’s reds in 2016 (September 22nd), in a bid to capture the bright acidity characteristic of the vintage. As usual, this cuvée was vinified with all stems retained, and matured in concrete vats, allowing fruit and terroir to speak for themselves. Drink 2018-2025.
Will Heslop, Wine Buyer

The excellence of Cru Beaujolais is something I have held dear for some time, but its ageing potential was first brought to my attention when I was served two Moulin-à-Vent wines from 1961 and 1962 produced by Camille Giroud. The freshness and complexity of these wines was simply astonishing and I have since made it something of a personal mission to return these great wines to their rightful place in the cellars and on the tables of the most discerning wine drinkers. The wines in our offer cover a range of styles; whole-bunch, de-stemmed, oaked, unoaked, elegant and floral, dense and structured. This almost endless variety and versatility is what is most fascinating about Gamay grown on Beaujolais’s volcanic soils. What the wines have in common, however, is that they all offer excellent value for money and great drinking pleasure.

Jean-Marc compares 2015 to the excellent ‘09 vintage, but notes his wines have extra freshness (read acidity) in ’15 despite an exceptionally hot, dry summer. He’s happy with his decision to begin harvest early, on August 29th.

The 2015 Côte du Py is virtually opaque – the first indication of its remarkable concentration. The nose is relatively open with aromas of blue fruit and nutmeg, as well as a telltale sign of carbonic maceration: a beguiling, high-toned scent somewhere between kirsch and watercolour paint. In contrast, the palate is so tightly wound that it calls for decanting at least an hour before service. But once its muscular tannins have begun to relax, the wine’s finesse hoves into view. This is as full-bodied and powerful as Beaujolais comes, but its mouthwatering acidity provides balance.

If you can resist, this is likely to peak in 3+ years time, when it will make a sensational accompaniment to roast meat or game.
Will Heslop - Wine Buyer, March 2017

The lieu-dit of Javernières lies at the foot of the Côte du Py, on soils of deep clay. This cuvée is invariably deep-coloured, concentrated and age-worthy, but the ’14 – in keeping with the vintage – majors on crunchy red fruit and mouth-watering acidity. The palate is medium-bodied, with a winning soupçon of spice. Drinking brilliantly in winter 2017.
Will Heslop, Wine Buyer

Louis-Claude Desvignes, a seventh-generation vigneron, is currently producing some of the finest Morgons in the appellation. His vineyards are situated on the Montagne de Py, in the centre of Morgon, where the fruit is of far superior quality to that produced in the outlying areas of the appellation. The day-to-day running of the property is now in the hands of his charming daughter Claude Emmanuelle. She harvests later than other vignerons in the appellation with the intention of obtaining fruit of optimal ripeness.

This wine shows the depth and generosity associated with the clay-rich Javernieres vineyard at the foot of the Cote du Py. Rich purple with a most impressive density of fruit, this is but a babe in arms at the moment. And yet, the vast array of fruit in the mouth shows the potential, especially with the very fine long finish. Drink now to 2020.