2021 Alex Foillard Côte de Brouilly

Region: Beaujolais, Burgundy, France

Grape: Gamay

Culinary Suggestions: Garlic Snails, Chinese Cuisine, Roast Duck, Antipasti

Vineyard Practice: Sustainable

About

The Foillard family have become a bit like family over the years, I first visited them in 2007 and Alex was then a teenager, helping in the vines and the winery. In 2014 he came to Australia to stay with us for a year to learn English and experience a different culture; he fit right in both in Sydney and Melbourne and has made many friendships. He's easygoing and has a good sense of humour, doesn't mind a drink either !

Jean doesn’t need much of an introduction. His Côte du Py is as pure and captivating as Beaujolais gets. One of the iconic wines of contemporary France.

The Côte du Py of Morgon is one of Beaujolais’ great vineyards, certainly it's best known, and the Foillard's are undoubtedly the master of the site.  This email is not about Jean though, it is about his eldest Son Alex. 

Alex in 2021 is in charge of everyday running of the family winery for his father where he also makes his own wines. In fact you have tasted his work in the 'Jean Foillard' wines in the last few vintages too.

Like Jean's they also have a seductive aromatic component, a silky texture, and a downright deliciousness that is unmistakably Foillard. After all, Alex uses well honed family techniques to craft his wines: whole-cluster fermentation with natural yeasts; their version of carbonic maceration.

The fermentation starts inside the grapes. The enzymes break down the skin from within and when the pressure is large enough the grapes split and break down - this generates intense aromas and colours and fruit that radiates in the wine. Maturation takes place in 50% used barrels and 50% on concrete tanks before bottling. No fining or filtration, and no additives of any kind save for a small sulfur dose at bottling. - Importer Note

Tasting Notes

From the north-facing lieu-dit Chavannes, with soils of granite and schist and a thin layer of sandy soils over the top. This area provides for wines with distinct minerality and finesse.