2021 Patrice Béguet Fresh Impressions Rouge

WINEMAKER: Patrice Béguet & Caroline Hughes
REGION: Jura, FR
VARIETAL: Grenache, Gamay, Ploussard
VITICULTURE: Organic/Biodynamic

This is a blend of 40% Grenache from Mont Vontoux, 50% Gamay from the Loire and 10% Ploussard from Patrice's vineyards in the Jura. All manual picking by Patrice from organic or Biodynamic vineyards. 80% was direct press and 20% underwent maceration all in stainless. Indigenous yeast fermentation at low temps.

An intriguing and playful nose of savoury edged red berries and cherry that flirt with celery salt, smokey bacon and hibiscus. The palate is always fresh and bright in this wine. A little spice and burst of juicy red fruit, rose, goji berry, jasmine and hibiscus. All about freshness, lift and drinkability.

Patrice Béguet, born in the Jura, gave up Paris city life and returned to the Jura countryside with his wife, Caroline Hughes. They purchased heritage vineyards on great terroir, and set up a small winery under their house in Mesnay adopting sustainable viticulture practices and winemaking techniques. They own 4.5 hectares of vineyard in the AOC Arbois appellation at over 300 metres above sea level, including one of the most coveted slopes of Arbois, Les Corvées, and a parcel on the famed Côte de Feule vineyards in Pupillin amongst others. The vines are typically 40 years old. 

Patrice has an environmentalist bent, sowing wild flowers, leguminous plants and cereals between vineyard rows. He works his vineyards biodynamically, applying yarrow, nettle, dandelion, chamomile and meadowsweet preparations. So committed to this lifestyle, he meticulously sources biodynamic straw for his straw wine and even an ancient breed of Alpine sheep graze on indigenous grasses between vines in the winter. Patrice has a focus on diversity in his vineyards with lots of native fruits surrounding the vines and beehives strategically placed at the bottom of vineyard slopes.