Domaine Grégoire Hoppenot - Fleurie Les Moriers 2022

A former wine merchant for the Trenel company, Grégoire Hoppenot took over Jean-Paul Champagnon’s 10-hectare estate in 2018 to strike out on his own. The plots of young vines are certified organic; the rest are in the process of conversion.

I discovered the wines from this new winery during my tastings in Villefranche organized by Inter Beaujolais, and Hoppenot’s first vintages impressed me enough to warrant a special mention. If he can maintain this level of quality, importers will be lining up at his door.

Grégoire Hoppenot is one to watch closely. He is one of those winemakers who, before setting up his own operation in 2018, gained valuable experience at estates such as Chermette, Maison Trénel, and the Bel-Air winemakers’ cooperative. He has successfully assembled a portfolio of high-quality vineyards among the cru’s finest lieux-dits. Gentle whole-cluster vinification is followed by aging that combines tank and previously used oak, allowing the wine to best reflect its nuances while maintaining an approachable and refined character. The 2018 vintage proved promising, and the 2019 vintage is particularly successful. We look forward to discovering the next vintages.

This Fleurie is fresh and delicious. It is medium-bodied and features savory layers of rosehip, raspberry, licorice, nutmeg, and blood orange, supported by fine-grained tannins. Excellent finish.