2020 Les Bertrand Morgon Dynamite

WINEMAKER: Yann Bertrand
REGION: Beaujolais, FR
VARIETAL: Gamay
VITICULTURE: Organic

The only vineyard the estate currently has in Morgon, it is a parcel next to Chaos with Yann’s vineyards on the Fleurie Morgon appellation border. This 1.2 hectare site plot is comprised of 60+ year old vines planted on granite and schist soils rich in iron oxide. Elevage in a mix of old barriques and Demi-muds of at least 5+ years of age followed by 11 months aging in bottle prior to release.

Vibrancy on the nose. Graphite tannins, elegance despite the power. Concentration and spice level upped here, yet still with the freshness. A vein of acidity and mineral kicks at the back. Fluid. Moving through the day, plums, concentrated dark fruit, tannins dip and dive yet remain feathery. Brooding, fruit into mineral with crispness. Soars to heights. (Notes from barrel March 2022 - The palate doesn’t show the higher abv, it has a roundness with finesse (like a bosom) darker fruit, depth, silky.)

Established in the 1950’s by Louis Bertrand, Les Bertrand is located in a special part of Beaujolais called ‘Grand-pré’. A section that straddles the crus of both Fleurie and Morgon, rich in sandy granitic soil. The estate wines from these appellations are uniquely different even though all the vines are in the same area. The complexity found in the vineyard is demonstrated through these different cuvees. Since 2016 Yann has been working with Pascal Guignet, a grower in Julienas for cuvee Julienas...100%, the only non estate wine in this release. The fruit is manually harvested and sorted. In the cellar vinification is cold carbonic and semi carbonic maceration at 10-12 degrees with natural yeasts in large concrete vats. Bottling is done in Spring according to the moon, all wines are un-fined and unfiltered.