Du Grappin Nature Beaujolais-Villages 2023

Du Grappin Nature is the Beaujolais-Villages cuvée from Andrew Nielsen's Le Grappin, a project built on low-intervention winemaking and lesser-known terroirs. It is made from Gamay, the grape of Beaujolais, grown on the granite and schist soils that run through the Villages appellation and give the wine its bright fruit and light, mineral frame. Made naturally with no added sulphites in the cellar, the wine sees only six months in barrel, so the emphasis stays on fresh, unadorned fruit rather than oak. Gamay here is typically fermented with whole clusters, which lifts the aromatics and softens the tannin into a juicy, easy texture. The colour is a bright violet-tinged ruby. The nose is vivid and floral, with ripe strawberry, blueberry, cherry and a peppery, faintly earthy edge. The palate is light bodied and fresh, with crunchy red fruit, low tannin and a clean, thirst-quenching finish. This is a wine to drink young and lightly cool. Serve at 13 to 14 degrees in a standard glass. It suits charcuterie, roast pork and poultry.