Legendary Lapierre & Raisins Gaulois 2020
Gamay is Beaujolais and Beaujolais is Gamay.
Located south of Burgundy, it creates a range of styles of Gamay from the newly released Beaujolais nouveau to the gorgeously ageable Cru’s. Unfortunately the regions nouveau style gave the region a bad rap in the 80s for it’s overproduction. Thanks to the Gang of Four (Marcel Lapierre, Jean Foillard, Jean Paul Thévenet and Guy Breton) the regions reputation was changed. They were the forward thinking winemakers, the revolutionary rebels who not only changed winemaking but promoted quality - less is more mentality. No more herbicides or pesticides, “natural wine” focused on old vines with lower yields = higher quality fruit. They let the grapes stay longer on the vine to develop the flavors in order to create a more structured wine. They only used the healthiest grapes and avoiding adding any sulfur, if none at all. They took a stand. They wanted change. They forever changed the perception of Beaujolais. You can’t argue with that now an you ;)
INFO: What is carbonic maceration? Beaujolais wines are made in the traditional fashion using carbonic maceration - gravity helps the fermentation happens naturally. Using whole clusters of berries which are stacked on top of each other in a sealed tank, The high levels of CO2 starts the fermentation inside the berry. The bottom berries get gently crushed due to the weight from above and provides a wine with light color, little tannins and a very approachable fruity wine. The winds are light, fresh fruit, heat of a tad spice and earthiness
Marcel LaPierre Raisins Gaulois 2020
Vins de Pays, France
Raisins Gaulois was the brain child the late Marcel Lapierre’s son & daughter, Mathieu & Camille. Raisins Gaulois translates to “Gaillic Grapes” which is a clever play on words by Lapierre. It’s more or less the French equivalent to shit happens, deal with it. The label itself is a giggle cartoon that reminds me of the Just for Laughs comedy festival in Montreal, Canada.
The grapes are from young vines mostly within the Morgon appellation with some Beaujolais AOC. There is no “Vin de Pay Beaujolais” designation in the region therefor it has to be labelled “Vin de Pays France.” The grapes undergo typical semi-carbonic maceration without the addition of SO2, for 4-6 days. This wine is as “natural” as it gets. Their aim was to make an approachable and affordable wine that EVERYONE will enjoy. The result is a juicy red-loaded fruit wine with bright, playful fruit is low in alcohol and delightfully refreshing.
Pours into the glass a spectacular, bright, jeweled ruby color with a violet rim.
Swirl and pretty notes of tart red and black fruits, violets and wet earth embody the glass.
Sip and let the good times roll. Bright fruit flavors of strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, cherry, bubblegum, banana, wet stone and finishes on a hum of cinnamon. It has bright acidity and light tannins. It’s a silky, aromatic and juicy unadulterated pleasure of a wine. The is a wonderful introduction to the domaine’s wines. It was made to be a fun, carefree quaffing wine. It’s as they say a “glou-glou” wine. You can’t NOT love this wine - I dare you to try and not love it.
This wine begs for a slight chill and to be served alongside charcuterie, cheeses, picnics or just about anything involving fun.
