13% abv, Joseph Drouhin, imported by Dreyfus, Ashby & Co., New York, NY. Cork closure: natural. Biodynamic calendar: fruit day.
The Gamay Noir vines belong to the charitable Beaujolais hospices organization and include the 4-hectare Brouilly plot ‘Le Sigaud’ known for the pink granite soils known so well in the vineyards at the foothills of Mont Brouilly. Drouhin, luckily, has since 2014 signed a long-term agreement with the Hospices to produce and export the wines. The winemaking is partly de-stemmed grapes with some whole bunches and carbonic maceration techniques with aging in 500-liter barrels. The result is impressive! It’s a fine marriage of various Beaujolais winemaking methods to produce a wine that is full of fruit but not without some texture and finesse.
Tasting note: Medium garnet with a clean nose of medium+ intensity with aromas of raspberry, cassis, black cherry, toasted chestnuts, citrus rind, and cocoa powder. On the palate this wine is dry with high acid, medium+ tannins, medium body, medium alcohol, medium+ flavor intensity and long finish with flavors of crème de violette, ripe red cherry, strawberry, Mirabelle plum, woodspice, toasted hazelnut, cream, cinnamon and marjoram leaf. Drink now or through 2027, this wine is very good: 9.3/10.