Jean Foillard

An essential name in Beaujolais, precursor of Natural Wine alongside Marcel Lapierre and Co, Jean Foillard began his career as a winemaker with his father in the family estate and released his first vintage in 1981. However, it was in 1985 that he set up in his own name in the town of Villié-Morgon, the nerve center of the Beaujolois vineyards. At that time the estate only had 8 ha, today it has 22 ha including a brand new plot purchased... of Chardonnay! Here the working method is intended to be as natural as possible, but what we believe above all is that the more viticulture, the work of the vines, is respectful of its terroir and natural, the better the grapes will be, healthier and so the fermentations will be better... And the wines will taste better!
Because Jean focuses his winemaking work on the traditional Beaujolaise method: the just-harvested grapes (at good maturity, it goes without saying) are left to rest in a cold room, between 10 and 12°, for a whole night. The vats are then filled with these (whole and cooled bunches) before they are closed, without any exogenous Co2 or pumping over. All for a period of 2-3 weeks. The aging is then done in barrels of several wines for 80% of the juices and in concrete vats for the rest. A very slight dose of sulfur can be added during bottling (2.5g/hl). This area is today recognized as a classic of classics, but one that we never tire of, and that's the mark of the greats!