Jean Foillard - Morgon Charmes Eponym 2014

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

The Morgon appellation is indeed fortunate to boast so many leading estates. Jean and Agnès Foillard offer a particularly fruity and fresh expression of the wine. The Fleurie and the 3.14 cuvée are always released slightly later than the Morgons. While the approach to work in the vineyards and the cellar is admirable, one cannot help but mention the few animal notes that plague certain vintages, sometimes causing them to lose all the character of their origin. This is a frustrating observation, as the structure of the wines produced clearly reveals their exceptional quality.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

The young 2014 Morgon Les Charmes Eponym is made from grapes purchased by Foillard from a vineyard owned by three brothers. It offers a very pure bouquet of redcurrant and wild strawberry with notes of fresh limestone. The palate is well-balanced with a crisp, red-berry fruitiness that is very linear and somewhat “strict” for a Morgon, with a touch of softness toward the finish that should mellow with 2 or 3 years in the bottle. Good potential.

About the estate:

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the estate:

Jean Foillard is one of the key figures in the Beaujolais wine scene. A series of setbacks had led to his removal from the Green Guide; it was only natural to reinstate him. Known for his “natural” style, Jean cut his teeth at the family estate starting in 1981. With a steady hand, he has maintained a free-spirited yet disciplined style, resulting in wines that are consistently excellent and deeply complex. Organic viticulture, sulfur-free winemaking, whole-cluster harvesting, and barrel aging are not the only keys to success, of course. For producing these “free-spirited” yet precise wines, meticulous monitoring under the microscope is one of the fundamental factors. Jean Foillard is gradually passing the torch to his son, Alex. After traveling the world and taking over a few hectares of vineyards in his own name, Alex is gradually taking the reins with the determination to continue his father’s work while infusing it with his own sensibility. There is a noticeable progression in the latest vintages tasted, which suggests the potential for a second star.