Jean and Agnès Foillard took over his father’s domaine in 1980. Most of their vineyards are planted on the Côte du Py, the famed slope outside the town of Villié-Morgon. The estate comprises nearly fourteen hectares.
Jean followed the methods of Jules Chauvet, a traditionalist who defied everything that the more commercial brands were touting in the region. Jean and three other local vignerons, Marcel Lapierre, Jean-Paul Thévenet, and Guy Breton, joined the movement. Kermit Lynch called this group The Gang of Four.
The Côte du Py is from vines that range in age from 10 years to 90 years old.
Crimson in color. 14.5% ABV. Pretty nose of red fruits, citrus, baking spices and earth. Medium body with perfect acidity. Light, crisp and refreshing. Cherry, pomegranate, cranberry and minerals on the palate. The finish is long and supple. Really classic Beaujolais that has aged well. I’ll open my last bottle in 2026 but best over the next several years.
My rating: 92 points.
I buy this wine periodically but based on this bottle I am convinced I should probably buy most every vintage. Slightly expensive at $50, compared to other Beaujolais, but there is no arguing with the finished product.