2020 Domaine de la Grand’Cour Brouilly VV

A very special Brouilly, limited quantities available

From a clay-limestone terroir with deep soils on the East part of the appellation. 1.7 hectare, 60 years old vines. The vines have due Southern exposure and the highest are at 230m altitude. Vinification in concrete tanks and ageing 60% in stainless steel tanks and 40% in oak barrels for 6 months.

'Over the last several years Jean-Louis Dutraive has risen to the ranks of Beaujolais royalty. Today Dutraive comfortably sits amongst the giants of Beaujolais: Lapierre, Foillard, Metras, Breton, amongst others. These are world class wines made in tiny quantities and with minimal intervention. A strong proponent of organic viticulture, Dutraive works old vines in some of the best parcels in Fleurie (as well as Brouilly) and crafts Beaujolais of unparalleled delicacy, inner concentration and sheer deliciousness. Jean-Louis is a true master of Gamay, while remaining ever so humble and hard-working.

When Jean Dutraive purchased the Domaine de la Grand’Cour in 1969, it was already one of the oldest domaines in Fleurie. Today the Domaine encompasses 9 hectares divided between three contiguous terroirs: Grand’Cour, Chapelle des Bois, and Champagne. The family also has 1.6 hectares of Brouilly that have been in the family for five generations. Jean-Louis joined his father in 1977, and took over the domaine in 1989.

The domaine has been certified organic since 2009, but practicing organic for several decades prior. Jean-Louis strives to make vins de terroir above all else, and follows the same principles of winemaking for each of his cuvées - hand harvesting, whole-cluster carbonic fermentation without any added sulphur, native yeasts and no intervention or addition of oenologic products. The wines are bottled with a touch of sulphur to maintain stability during shipping'