# Domaine Jean Foillard Beaujolais-Villages (2023)

- **Producer:** Domaine Jean Foillard
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Gamay
- **Region:** Beaujolais, France
- **Style:** Natural
- **Alcohol:** 13.0%
- **Average price:** €24
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 12–14 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** cherry, strawberry, raspberry, orange, rose

## About this wine

Jean Foillard is a legendary figure in Beaujolais, widely recognized as a pioneer of the natural wine movement. Taking over his father's estate in 1980, Foillard, alongside figures like Marcel Lapierre, rebelled against the industrialization of the region. Dubbed the 'Gang of Four' by importer Kermit Lynch, they championed old vines, organic farming, and zero-additive winemaking. This Beaujolais-Villages represents an accessible entry point to his iconic style, sourced from high-quality organic parcels bordering the region's top crus.

## Interesting facts

- Jean Foillard is a founding member of the legendary 'Gang of Four' who revolutionized Beaujolais by returning to natural winemaking.
- Unlike his Crus which age in oak, this Beaujolais-Villages is aged entirely in concrete to maximize fresh fruit purity.
- The grapes are sourced from high-elevation organic parcels bordering prestigious Crus like Morgon and Saint-Amour.

## Food pairing

This light-to-medium-bodied red wine thrives alongside classic French bistro fare. Its vibrant acidity cuts through the richness of charcuterie, terrines, and soft cheeses, while its soft tannins and bright red fruit complement roasted poultry and grilled pork without overpowering them.

## Wine making process

The grapes are harvested manually and undergo strict sorting. Vinification follows traditional low-intervention methods with whole-cluster semi-carbonic maceration using native yeasts in concrete tanks for about 15 days. No sulfur dioxide is added during fermentation, and only minimal doses may be used at bottling. The wine is aged for 7 months entirely in concrete tanks to preserve its fresh, vibrant fruit character and mineral line, and is bottled unfined and unfiltered.