Jean Foillard : Classique 2023

Characteristics and tasting notes of the 2023 Morgon "Classique" by Jean Foillard

Tasting

Colour
The colour reveals a ruby red hue, at once bright, vivid and translucent.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet opens with notes of red and black fruits, recalling cherry, raspberry and wild strawberry. It then evolves towards floral touches of peony and rose petal, underscored by a minerality reminiscent of graphite and earth, along with subtle nuances of spice, white pepper and orange zest.

Palate
The attack is smooth and elegant, revealing a silky texture and refined tannins. The palate offers flavours of pomegranate, cherry and rhubarb, complemented by notes of black tea and a lovely mineral backbone. The natural acidity brings great freshness to this medium-bodied wine, which lingers on a delicate, persistent finish.

Food and wine pairing

This French red wine pairs beautifully with traditional bistro fare such as a fine grilled beef dish, herb-roasted poultry or coq au vin. It also goes very well with charcuterie platters, Asian-inspired dishes featuring pork or duck, as well as vegetable-based preparations with mushrooms or fresh cheeses like goat's cheese and ricotta.

Service and storage

To fully appreciate the "Classique" 2023 vintage, it is recommended to serve it at a temperature of between 14 and 16°C, taking care to decant it one to two hours before tasting. This wine can be enjoyed young but has an ageing potential that allows it to be kept until around 2033.

Other characteristics

This wine has a moderate alcohol content, generally around 13%.

The elegance and mineral purity of a great Morgon wine

The estate

The history of the estate truly began in 1980 when Jean Foillard took over the family property located in Villié-Morgon, in Beaujolais, France. As part of the emblematic "Gang of Four", he revolutionised the region by championing natural viticulture that respects the terroir. Today, the vineyard covers approximately 23 hectares. Jean Foillard, who still heads the estate, is now supported by his son Alex Foillard, ensuring the continuity of a savoir-faire renowned worldwide for its authenticity and pursuit of excellence.

The vineyard

The grapes for this cuvée come from several plots located within the Morgon appellation. The vines, aged between 20 and 55 years, thrive on soils emblematic of the region, composed of decomposed granite, often referred to as "rotten rock", mixed with schist, manganese and iron oxides. The estate favours organic farming, promoting biodiversity and manual soil work to express the full complexity of the terroir.

The vintage

The year 2023 began with a mild winter followed by a cooler, wetter spring, allowing for an ideal flowering in June, a month that turned out to be exceptionally warm and sunny. After a mild July, the beginning of August brought a touch of coolness and humidity before radiant weather returned for the harvest in early September. These conditions made it possible to obtain berries with perfect physiological ripeness, preserving a lovely natural acidity.

Winemaking and ageing

After manual harvesting and rigorous sorting, the whole bunches undergo overnight cold maceration. Fermentation of the "Classique" 2023 cuvée then takes place spontaneously with indigenous yeasts, through semi-carbonic maceration in concrete vats, over a period ranging from ten days to three weeks. Ageing then takes place over seven to nine months in neutral oak barrels and wooden foudres. The wine is bottled without fining or filtration.

Grape variety

100% Gamay.