2022 Jean Foillard, Fleurie

Jean Foillard’s approach to his Fleurie, sourced from old vines rooted in pink sandstone and granitic soils, prioritizes the preservation of site specificity through rigorous organic farming and absolute minimal intervention in the cellar. The grapes undergo traditional, whole-cluster carbonic maceration at low temperatures, a technique that Foillard utilizes to encourage subtle, structural extraction while maintaining purity. The 2022 vintage, characterized by a hot and dry growing season, yielded wines with notable density, yet the producer’s precise handling successfully balanced this inherent ripeness with nerve and tension. The resulting structure is defined by fine-grained tannins and a mineral-laden backbone, providing a firm architectural frame that underscores the Gamay’s varietal character.