Marcel Lapierre "Le Beaujolais" Rouge 2023

Simple “Beaujolais” does not justify this new cuvée by sibling duo Mathieu and Camille Lapierre. It tastes more like top-class Morgon, with loads of bright cherry and silky violets, only it’s made from parcels just beyond the Morgon AOC boundaries. A testament to the greatness of whole-cluster Gamay from sandy granitic soils, it is a more affordable -- and available -- opportunity to experience the magic that makes Lapierre an iconic producer not just in Beaujolais, but in all of wine.

If you’re a fan of Beaujolais, then Marcel Lapierre requires little introduction. Responsible for igniting the natural wine movement in France, Lapierre remains a Beaujolais reference point today. This new release is classic Lapierre, meaning light and bright yet earthy and peppery. It’s the perfect chilled red.

Sourced from three parcels that are just across the village line of Morgon in Lancié, a neighboring commune of Villié Morgon. Semi-carbonic maceration without SO2 for 10-21 days, then six months in “cuve.” Unlike with the entry-level Raisins Gaulois cuvée, this wine is bottled in the spring instead of winter. It is the mid-way cuvée between “Raisins Gaulois” and Morgon.