Domaine des Sables d'Or ★ 4.0
Brouilly estate in the commune of Saint-Lager, one of the six communes making up the largest of the Beaujolais crus. Produces ripe, generous Gamay from sandy granite.
Brouilly estate in Saint-Etienne-la-Varenne, one of the six communes of the Brouilly AOC (granted 1938, around 1300 hectares). Produces round, fruit-expressive Gamay from the gently sloping granite terrain of Brouilly.
Address: Brouilly, 69460 Saint-Etienne-la-Varenne, France, Beaujolais
Brouilly estate in the commune of Saint-Lager, one of the six communes making up the largest of the Beaujolais crus. Produces ripe, generous Gamay from sandy granite.
Brouilly estate in the commune of Saint-Lager, one of the six communes making up the largest of the Beaujolais crus. Produces ripe, generous Gamay from sandy granite.
Morgon estate and spiritual home of the natural Beaujolais movement, producing whole-cluster Gamay with minimal sulfur following Jules Chauvet's method. Marcel died in 2010; the domaine continues.
Tasting: Visits and tastings by appointment; the domaine is a pillar of the natural Beaujolais movement founded on Jules Chauvet's principles.
Signature wines: lapierre-morgon, lapierre-raisins-gaulois
Tip: Book tastings well ahead; allocation wines sell quickly through specialist importers.
Morgon estate anchored on the Cote du Py lieu-dit, a Gang of Four natural pioneer. Jean Foillard studied under Jules Chauvet and has farmed organically for decades.
Tasting: Visits by appointment only. The estate is best known for its Cote du Py parcel.
Signature wines: foillard-morgon-cote-du-py, foillard-morgon-eponym
Tip: The Cote du Py cuvee rewards 3 to 5 years in bottle.
Gang of Four member producing Morgon Vieilles Vignes from old Gamay vines with zero-sulfur philosophy and whole-cluster fermentation. A key reference for natural Beaujolais.
Fourth member of the Gang of Four, farming Morgon with the same minimal-intervention approach shaped by Jules Chauvet. Produces deeply concentrated Gamay from old vines.
Yvon Métras produces Fleurie with uncompromising natural methods from a 5-hectare estate based in Vauxrenard near Fleurie, with old Gamay vines including pre-phylloxera plantings dating to 1898 in the Grille-Midi and La Madone lieux-dits. Tiny production, allocated through specialist importers.