2021 Les Bertrand Juliénas ... 100%

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

Sourced from one a hectare lieu-dit “Le Riziere”. 55 year old vines on white clay with crumbly schist and sandstone. Elevage in used barriques of 5+ years of age. After the 2018 harvest, Yann understood this plot more. There is a small selection of Chardonnay vines planted in the Julienas plot, and for the past two vintages (20 & 21) the grapes have been harvested and fermented together, approximately 5-7% Chardonnay.

Aromas evolve with oxygen, from mineral to florals. Fruit forward on the palate, citrus twist amongst red fruits. Fluid and light. Delicate and pretty. Builds structure and framework on the palate. Moving through the day, it retains its freshness, the fruit red cherries and sour plums. (Notes from barrel March 2022 – edgy, lighter, fresh, fine tannins, moreish.)

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.