From: Côteaux du Lyonnais, Loire Valley, France
Varietal: Gamay
Taste: Aromas of wild blackberry, brambly raspberry, plum skin, and violet hint at the beautiful balance of crunchy red and black fruits (think cherry and blackcurrant) on the palate. These fruit characteristics merge well with the hints of savory, earthy notes and a touches of black pepper, culminating in a wonderfully soft mouthfeel. Just the right amount of acidity draws out the wine’s mineral, stony core and its lifted, dry finish.
Pairing: Hailing from the vineyards surrounding France’s gastronomic capital (Lyon), this wine will make a lovely companion to a variety of dishes—its versatility can easily take you through a meal where people are ordering different things. True to the Beaujolais style, it will pair easily with French charcuterie such as patés, terrines, rillettes and saucisson sec and with white-rinded cheeses such as Brie and Camembert (provided they’re not overripe). Other ideas include Toulouse or other garlicky sausages with lentils, fruity tagines like lamb tajine with dates, prunes, or apricots, salads with chicken or bacon and pomegranate seeds or dried red berries, and of course a simple grilled pork, lamb or veal. Today, we’re sharing David Tanis’ classic recipe for Frisée aux Lardons.
About. Jean-Michel Dupré started with next to nothing: only a farm and a two-hectare vineyard in Beaujolais left by his father. When the question of succession arose, Jean-Michel could not pass on the opportunity to continue the tradition. He converted an old farm building into a winery and went in search of additional well-located plots in Beaujolais, Beaujolais Villages, Morgon, Régnié, and now the Côteaux du Lyonnais with this wine. The age of his vineyards sets Jean-Michel apart from many other winemakers in the region, and he uses organic viticulture to preserve the ecosystem of his vineyards. Jean-Michel is a member of Terroirs Originels; a collective of independent winemakers from Southern Burgundy and the Beaujolais area.
This wine is a Gamay from the Côteaux du Lyonnais appellation (est. 1984), which is located south of Beaujolais and just north of the beginning of the Northern Rhône. There are 280 hectares of vines planted across the appellation, on the hills north and southwest of the city of Lyon. Wines from here are technically considered part of the greater Burgundy, and although small amounts of rosé from Gamay and whites from Chardonnay and Aligoté are produced, the appellation mainly makes Beaujolais-esque reds from Gamay (like this one!). The co-operative at Sain-Bel vinifies three-quarters of production, so Jean-Michel Dupré’s presence in the appellation as an independent winegrower is notable.
