lafarge-vial – beaujolais…

Update 6.4.2016(5.4.2016)billn

DSC09321Frederic and Chantal Lafarge – Chantal was a Vial – have a new(ish!) small domaine of 4-hectares in the Beaujolais. They have vines in Fleurie and Chiroubles, and quite old vines too. The vines were already, ‘very well cared for, mainly organic’ but, as you would expect, they immediately set out on a biodynamic course.

Frederic describes the vinification as de-stemming, concrete tanks, and older barrels. The first vintage being 2014. I thought I’d give you my first ‘Beaujolais Report’ here 😉

2014 Chiroubles
From 45 year old vines. 1 year elevage, no new oak, some larger barrels, one racking in April, bottling in October.
Perfumed wine, of modest gamay impression. Round, nicely textured, an almost creamy aspect to the flavour. Good length too. Very tasty wine.

2014 Fleurie ‘Bel Air’
45 and 65 year old vines, Bel-Air is the lieu-dit.
A little more aromatic scale, some flowers. Supple, a hint of tannin but a layered delivery of flavour too – fine length too. This is excellent!

2014 Fleurie ‘Clos Vernay’
A Clos of 1.3 hectares, near the border with Moulin-à-Vent – near Bouchard’s Château Poncier. 40-45 year old vines here.
A pyrazine element to the nose. In the mouth this is supple and nicely textured. Also a similar pyrazine component in the flavours – minerality or bugs? – yet still very tasty, and obviously very young, wine.

Agree? Disagree? Anything you'd like to add?

There are 3 responses to “lafarge-vial – beaujolais…”

  1. R.K. Stockton6th April 2016 at 5:16 amPermalinkReply

    Did they tell you the prices? Would you pay $45.00 USD or more a bottle?

    • billn6th April 2016 at 5:30 amPermalinkReply

      Prices I don’t know RK.
      That’s kind of high…
      My benchmark is the currently too high prices for good villages Côte de Nuits wines eg Vosne, Gevrey or Chambolle – I personally wouldn’t pay the current price for many of those – €40 is simply too much for a villages.

      Now if these from Lafarge are lower priced, then yes – and they are clearly, massively, higher quality than a Bourgogne level wine.

  2. beauneman6th April 2016 at 8:45 amPermalinkReply

    Nice to see you are foraging in Beaujolais Bill. As someone who has tried for many years to promote affordable Burgundy I am somewhat puzzled why Cru Beaujolais is not favoured over Bourgogne rouge and village level wines as it is so much more affordable in terms of quality.

  3. kentm11th April 2016 at 11:54 pmPermalinkReply

    A merchant in New York has these 3 wines listed for $38, $43 and $44. Ex tax, I think.

    Seems about the same price range as Thibeault Liger Belair’s various, excellent offerings from Moulin-a-Vent.

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