“Cherries, oranges, ripe strawberries, and hints of licorice on the nose of this silky, medium-bodied to full-bodied red wine. Flavorful, ripe, and bursting with red fruit.” (James Suckling 2025) Don’t be like the Prussians in 1870—don’t run away from this lady!
Buy your La Madone wines at the best price through a private sale!
Starting at €99 on your first order
Eye
Crimson color with violet highlights
Nose
Pleasant nose, with floral aromas of wilted rose, iris, and violet
Palate
Round and full-bodied, with lovely, fine, velvety tannins and fruity and floral notes
Serve
At 13-15°C
Open
1 hour in advance for young vintages
Drink before
2034
Guard
Ages 10 to 12
Food and Wine Pairings
Enjoy it with wild boar bourguignon, andouillette, salted pork with lentils, or sautéed mushrooms...
Bettane & Desseauve
Rated 2*Stars (A solid, recommendable production, though a bit more consistent and uniform than the previous one)
About the estate:
Established for five generations on Fleurie’s most famous vineyard, La Madone, the Després family produces a very consistent range of elegant, well-balanced Fleurie wines. Arnaud, the son of Jean-Pierre Després, founded the Domaine du Niagara in 2005. He is expected to take over the family estate this year and will henceforth manage the entire operation. It is a daunting task on a famous but challenging cru. The most recent vintages live up to the estate’s reputation, and the wide range of wines offers a safe choice at a reasonable price.
Decanter
Wine rated (2025 guide) 91/100
About the wine:
An elegant, floral wine with complex oak notes, combined with hints of black cherries, vanilla, and sweet caramel. Fresh acidity, velvety tannins, and a long, mineral finish. The oak is noticeable but promises to integrate better with age.
Guide Hachette des vins
Rated Estate (2022 Guide) Award-Winning Wines (This producer's wines regularly receive awards from the guide)
About the estate:
Jean-Marc Després, one of the leading figures in Fleurie, has been based there since 1984 with his wife Maryse. In 2018, he passed his estate on to his son Arnaud, who now manages 18 hectares near an iconic site in the appellation: the Chapel of the Madonna. Another label: Dom. du Niagara.
RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France
Rated Estate (2022 Guide) Selected (Please note that this guide is a ranking, and as such, all the estates listed here—even those without a star—represent, in our view, the pinnacle of French winemaking.)
About the estate:
Jean-Marc Després is a reserved winemaker who speaks to you through his eyes… and through his wines! His son Arnaud joined him in 2005. Arnaud then took over his great-grandfather’s vineyards, which he markets under the Domaine Niagara label; he changed the vineyard management practices and planted new plots, including Viognier on granite. Thanks to the warmth of its hospitality, the authenticity of its wines, and the delicious cuisine at its inn, La Madone is a delightful stop in Beaujolais.
Jancis Robinson
Rated winery (2022 guide) Recommended
Vinous
Wine rated (2024 guide) 90/100
About the wine:
The 2022 Fleurie Dame de la Pétoche has a more floral bouquet than the Vieilles Vignes and displays greater precision and purity. On the palate, it is medium-bodied, with aromas of ripe, sweet blueberries; it’s quite velvety yet lively and vibrant on the finish, leaving you wanting more. Delicious.
James Suckling
Wine rated (2025 guide) 93/100
About the wine:
This silky, medium-bodied to full-bodied red wine offers aromas of cherries, oranges, ripe strawberries, and hints of licorice. It is flavorful, ripe, and bursting with red fruit. Enjoy now or cell it.
Customer Rating
4.5/5
based on 2 reviews
Review by Mr. GILLES D. Published on June 11, 2025
Powerful and robust, Dame de la Pétoche is a concentrated, full-bodied wine that delivers a fresh and juicy palate, with abundant texture that is graceful and velvety to the touch, beautifully blending subtle oak with ripe fruit and lovely notes of cherry jam. The present yet warm tannins—delicate and well-integrated—extend the profile into a long, savory finish. It has enormous aging potential thanks to its structure and depth. The antithesis of the classic, easy-drinking Beaujolais, Dame de la Pétoche is a young, distinguished wine that isn’t afraid to make a statement and is naturally meant for the table—to enhance, for example, a delicious coq au vin. Rating = 4.5.
See all reviews from this customer
Review by Mr. WILLIAM A. Posted on March 7, 2025
See all reviews from this customer
Discover more wines from the estate