Morgon Cote du Py Jean Foillard 2017/18

Morgon Cote du Py Jean Foillard, Organic Wine, 100% Gamay, Low in Sulphur, Iconic vineyard, stunning texture and style of pure Gamay. The soft texture is the best thing about this wine, and it makes you want to drink. "It has no heaviness, it isn't making an effort, it has nothing to prove. After a while longer, herb and tea elements begin to emerge. Then the bottle is empty, leaving me longing for more. It has teased my palate and left me wanting another glass. It is fantastically drinkable!" Not my words, those of Jamie Goode but he describes the wine very well! This is an excellent example of Gamay from the fabled Cote du Py of Morgon, and one of (if not the) best producers. Lush yet poised, hearty yet fresh, complex yet direct - what more could you possibly want?

The Jean Foillard estate has a total surface of 11 hectares next to the fabled Côte du Py hillside, which is in fact an extinct volcano, which has a number of different soil compositions. On Foillard's estate, the vineyards grow on slopes with crumbly schists soil that give Gamay a unique expression. Foillard now runs his estate with minimal intervention, though he chooses not to subscribe to any certification, despite adhering to many of the stipulations for organic and biodynamic. For him, the wines should speak for themselves and he should be able to respond to the needs of his vineyard without strict rules. His cellar is fairly unsophisticated, and all the better for it. He buys one-year-old casks and uses them for 10 years, rather than making wood one of the main components. He also has two foudres, one of which is over forty years old. His wines have a fantastic elegance and silky texture which raises them far above the level of what we would normally consider Beaujolais.