2023 Clos De La Roilette, Fleurie ‘Cuvee Tardive’ 1.5L Magnum, Beaujolais, France

100% Gamay. From the oldest vines,which are from 80 years on up, on heavy clay soils with relatively little granite and quite a lot of the iron-like mineral manganese. “Tardive” does not mean that the harvest is late, as is commonly believed, but rather is a reference to the wine’s ability and need to age for years. The farming is sustainable or lutte raisonne. All vineyard work is by hand, with the soils worked only superficially, at most twice per year, to protect the roots of these old 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 18 days for Tardive, 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