Alex Foillard Brouilly 2022

Alex Foillard, son of Beaujolais figure Jean Foillard, follows the natural approach his father helped establish. Brouilly is one of the ten Beaujolais crus, and this bottling comes from a single hectare of older Gamay vines, whose lower yields concentrate flavour and give the wine more depth than a village Beaujolais. The cru sits on the granite and blue volcanic diorite soils around Mont Brouilly, which drain freely and lend structure and minerality. Fermentation follows the regional whole-cluster tradition, drawing out bright fruit and floral aromatics with gentle tannin extraction. The wine is then aged for twelve months in French oak, using older barrels so that the wood rounds the structure through slow oxygen exchange rather than layering on obvious toast or vanilla. The colour is deep ruby. The nose shows dark cherry, raspberry and violet with a peppery, mineral edge. The palate is medium-light and silky, with fine tannin, fresh acidity and more grip and length than a basic Beaujolais. Serve at 14 to 15 degrees. It suits duck, roast pork, poultry and mushroom dishes.