2023 Clos De La Roilette, Fleurie, Beaujolais, France

100% Gamay. From vines around 40 years old and up, on heavy clay soils with relatively little granite and quite a lot of the iron-like mineral manganese. The farming is sustainable or lutte raisonne. All vineyard work is by hand; the soils are worked only superficially, at most twice per year, to protect the roots of the older vines. Vinification is traditional, semi-carbonic Beaujolais style. The whole clusters are harvested by hand and fermented spontaneously with native yeasts in open-top concrete tank. Maceration lasts around 14 days for the “regular” Fleurie, with a submerged cap rather than punchdowns. Sulfur use is quite minimal. The wine is aged in large, old oak foudres for about 9 months before bottling.