June 4, 2022 - 100% whole-bunch fruit from organically grown 50-yo vineyards. A week or two of carbonic maceration followed by a couple of weeks of spontaneous fermentation on the skins. Fermented and aged in concrete tanks, although in some years some barrel-aged wines can be blended in. 2012 was a difficult vintage in Beaujolais, plagued by continuous rains. As the grapes struggled to ripen, the yields were on average the lowest in 40 years, resulting in very structured and concentrated reds. 13% alcohol.
The wine is dark and somewhat translucent, blackish-red in color with a more evolved brick-red hue towards the rim. The nose feels fine-tuned and slightly evolved with sweetly-fruited aromas of dark forest fruits and strawberries, some wizened red plums, a little bit of ripe black cherry, light sappy herbal notes and a lifted hint of balsamic richness. The wine is clean, dry and focused on the palate with a moderately full body and savory flavors of dark forest fruits and earth, some autumnal notes of damp leaves, light brambly notes of fresh raspberries, a little bit of old leather, tart hints of cranberries and lingonberries and a touch of meaty umami. The overall feel is still quite structure-driven with the high acidity and moderately grippy medium-plus tannins. The finish is long, dry and quite grippy with savory flavors of tart cranberries and meaty umami, some brambly notes of raspberries, a little bit of wild strawberry, light blueberry tones, a hint of earth and a touch of balancing bitterness.
Some eight years ago, when I last tasted this wine, it seemed to be quite forbidding, but I thought it seemed to be full of promise. Well, apparently I was right, as now the wine was still relatively tightly-knit and structure-driven, yet not that tough and forbidding as it was, but instead quite attractively nuanced with flavors ranging from fresh and fruity to earthy and autumnal. Although the wine is starting to show some age, it feels the wine is still on an upward trajectory; most likely the wine will keep on evolving for some years and keep just fine for many years more. Terrific value at 20,20€.
April 19, 2020 - Freshly turned earth, mild funk. Orange rind, cinnamon, and red fruit on the palate.
July 30, 2018 - Encore en grande forme. Beau fruit vif.
April 4, 2018 - Great value.
Very fresh acidity. Still early.
January 31, 2018 - Pnp, cassis and black cherries, dense, tannins quite present, a bit rustique, good wine, but should have waited 2-3 years longer to open.
September 29, 2016 - Nez intense sur la cerise et les herbes séchées. Bouche très structurée, aux tanins un peu rustiques, proche d'une mondeuse. Le côté végétal de ce millésime difficile ressort un peu trop, mais c'est une bonne bouteille pour la table. Aux antipodes du moulin-à-vent tremblay 2012 de chez Janin qui était tout en délicatesse et en élégance.
July 8, 2016 - Ikke dekanteret. Mørk i farven. Efter et par timer kom røde frugter (jordbær) frem bag de mere kemiske eller umodne noter. Høj syre og lav alkohol. Koncentreret vin der viser mere fylde end man forventer af en beaujolais. Så det er altså både typisk og atypisk Beaujolais. Kan sagtens ligge et par år. God kvalitet som godt kan score højere i næste smagning. Super Q/P
August 1, 2015 - The color was deep and had a slight purple hue to it (not insanely purple just slightly so). On the nose, there was a definite raspberry upon opening. This later evolved into more of a red cherry. There was also a hint of kirsch. Overall, the wine had a very pleasant and aromatic nose. This wine was flavorful, had a medium finish, and good balance. I did not detect any vanilla, which leads me to believe that very little (if any) new oak was used. Good acidity. The fruits from the nose come through on the palate as well. I got some raspberry that dies down with time, red cherry, possibly a tiny bit of cranberry, and some minerality in the finish.
This wine definitely needs a few years in the cellar (or a couple of hours open in the bottle did the trick for me). Although I do believe that it can be enjoyed now, I am confident that a couple of years will make this wine marvelous.
May 19, 2015 - This took a looooong time to open, but when it did, it was very nice. Blueberry, herbs, earth. Good acidity. Excellent for the price. Hold a bit.
April 11, 2015 - Pure, high-toned, floral, fruit cup...classic Beaujolais nose. Medium-light body with fresh red fruit:cherry and cranberry. Good length and persistence with a little spice and plenty of floral tones on the finish. Really lovely, pure wine.