Jean Foillard : Cote du Py 2016

An Earthy Natural Beaujolais with Red Berry Aromas

Jean Foillard was founded in 1981, when Jean and Agnes Foillard took over their father's domain outside the town of Villie-Morgon in the Beaujolais region. Today, the estate covers almost 14 hectares of vines, most of which are planted in the distinguished Morgon appellation, specifically on the Cote du Py, a slope of granite and schist soils that impart tremendous complexity to the wines produced there. A devoted follower of traditionalist Jules Chauvet, Jean joined three other winemakers in a movement to return to older practices of viticulture and winemaking, including the cultivation of old vines, not using synthetic herbicides and pesticides, minimizing the use of sulfur dioxide, using old (minimum 2 years old) Burgundian barrels and not filtering the wines. The resulting wines of Jean Foillard are rustic and spicy, without the typical banana aromas often associated with Beaujoulais. Morgon Cote du Py 2016 is the flagship wine by Jean Foillard, a 100% Gamay from vines farmed organically on the outstanding plots of Morgon's Cote du Py. Following a very selective manual harvest, the fruit ferments in whole clusters for 3-4 weeks. The wine is matured for 6-9 months in used oak barrels with no SO2 added. The wines are not filtered before bottling.

The Morgon Cote du Py 2016 from Jean Foillard shows off a deep garnet color in the glass. On the nose, this natural Beaujolais wine opens with floral fragrances (orange blossom), which lead to crushed red berries (dark cherries, raspberries) and earthy touches. The attack is fresh and lively with a crisp acidity, followed by a pure palate with superbly velvety and powerful tannins. The finish is quite elegant and long, with subtle saline notes adding nice complexity.

Wine Advocate-Parker :
The 2016 Morgon Côte du Py is more convincing on the nose than the Morgon Corcelette at the moment, with vivacious dark cherry, raspberry and orange blossom aromas soaring from the glass. The palate is fresh on the entry with crisp acidity, quite linear and very focused with a saline touch on the finish. There is great potential here, and it constitutes one of Jean Foillard's most promising offerings in 2016.