Jean Foillard Beaujolais-Villages 2023

region: Beaujolais Villages, Beaujolais, Burgundy, France
Grape(s): Gamay
Winemaker: Jean Foillard
Farming: practicing organic

While it’s impossible to trace the beginning of the ‘natural wine’ movement to any one producer, there can be little debate that Jean Foillard, along with three of his friends and colleagues in Beaujolais, were absolutely pioneers and paragons of the movement. For nearly half a century, minimal intervention, old vines, a ban on pesticides and herbicides, stringent sorting, and no filtration have been the only way to do things at Foillard. The results have been cumulative, and are simply stunning even in his village level wines. Aromas of  wild cherries, pomegranate and roses combine with a rustic, earthy, farm-forward funk and a lively character for an unforgettable wine.

Pairings: Croque Monsieur