Beaujolais is one of the most dynamic winemaking regions in France today. Affordable land and a vibrant community of biodynamic viticulture have brought some of the top new winemaking talent to the region. Our two new producers here, Dupré-Goujon and Frederic Berne, perfectly embody the Beaujolais’s jubilant spirit and low-intervention ethos – and their wines happen to be delicious as well.
Frederic Berne is an evangelist for the terroirs of Lantigné, a town just off the main drag of the ten famous Beaujolais Crus. Whether or not it’s someday added as the 11th Cru (Fred believes it will be), we find its wines excellent. Berne’s 2022 Beaujolais Lantigné “Pierre Bleu” is a strong endorsement for the appellation.
Grown on blue granite soils, this is uncomplicated, joyful, beautifully-made beaujolais. The nose is deep and floral with cool purple fruits mixed with precise, linear minerality. The mouth is dense and fresh – think violets, pencil shaving, raspberries – and finishes clean and chalky. It’s quintessential fall wine, and we expect to be a frequent dining companion all the way up through Thanksgiving.
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Berne Beaujolais-Lantigné “Pierre Bleu” 2022
bottle price: $22
