2021 Les Bertrand Fleurie Coup d’Folie

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

In addition to the 1.2 hectare plot of vines aged 35-55 years, there is a third plot of younger 6 year old vines. All on sandy pink granitic soil. Normally a cuvee that sees elevage in both tank and used barrels, the 2021 was elevaged in used barrels only, the fruit this year having had the freshness Yann wanted, but feeling the barrels would bring the structure required.

Raspberries and darker red fruits on the nose. There is florals mid palate. The tannins softly build and linger. Structured, there’s also an elegance here. Moving through the day the lithe tannins become elegant. This wine has a lot of beauty. (Notes from barrel March 2022 – red fruits, cherries, has definition and fine tannins yet with finesse.)

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.