2022 Fleurie ‘La Chapelle des Bois’
Domaine de la Grand'Cour is one of the oldest domaines in Fleurie and carries a tradition for producing some of the most renowned wines of this cru. Back in 1969 Jean Dutraive purchased the commune-like buildings and surrounding vineyards of the domaine. He was then joined by his son Jean-Louis Dutraive, a fifth generation Beaujolais winemaker in 1977. Today the wines are quintessential Fleurie and among the finest of all Beaujolais. The domaine now comprises 9.1 hectares in Fleurie - the lie...Read More...
Domaine de la Grand'Cour is one of the oldest domaines in Fleurie and carries a tradition for producing some of the most renowned wines of this cru. Back in 1969 Jean Dutraive purchased the commune-like buildings and surrounding vineyards of the domaine. He was then joined by his son Jean-Louis Dutraive, a fifth generation Beaujolais winemaker in 1977. Today the wines are quintessential Fleurie and among the finest of all Beaujolais.
The domaine now comprises 9.1 hectares in Fleurie - the lieux-dits of Grand'Cour, the 8-hectare walled Clos surrounding the house and cellar, Chapelle des Bois and Champagne; plus 1.6 hectares in Brouilly. Jean-Louis began farming organically in 2002 when he moved to live at the house inside the Clos and was certified organic in 2009. Only natural inputs are used. All work is carried out manually and harvesting is exclusively by hand to ensure best quality whole bunches in the winery. The soils across the vineyards are variations on the classic coarse granite sand and gravel of Cru-Beaujolais, with some clay-limestone plots. The classic natural Carbonic fermentation is carried out in the same manner as the Famille wines with sulphur eschewed until a micro-dose pre-bottling. Grand'Cour wines are a beautiful blend of classicist and natural philosophies; producing traditionally structured Gamay of great mineral purity and freshness, with a natural vitality only present in the best Beaujolais. Since 2011 Jean-Louis has dialled up the wines and they are now recognised by his peers and French customers as being among the top few natural producers in Beaujolais today. THEY NEVER DISAPPOINT!
Soft dark cherry red. Wonderful fragrant nose of primarily ripe red berry fruit with some darker tones that segue into the spice and earth complexity. Complex and alluring with a perfumed scent through it. Wow, lovely fresh acid driven palate that builds into a strong mineral vein lifting the more delicate fruit higher. Lots of spice again with the tannins very fine and background to the firm acid spine. Easy to see why this lieu-dit has been put forward as a potential premier cru. Hold for reward. 13.5% – Tim Stock, Importer.
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