Beaupère Beaujolais Villages 2023
Louis-Clément David took over Domaine David-Beaupère in 2008, leaving behind a finance career to study agricultural engineering and transform the family estate. With 9 hectares of vines—7 in Juliénas and the rest in Moulin-à-Vent and Beaujolais-Village—the domaine focuses on organic viticulture, certified since 2014. Juliénas vines are rooted in two exceptional terroirs: La Bottière, with sandy, loamy soils and 40- to 70-year-old vines, and Vayolette, a steep, south-facing site with blue stone soils of magmatic origin.
Louis-Clément employs innovative practices to combat climate challenges, favoring natural or controlled grassing over heavy soil tilling. In the cellar, natural methods reign, with indigenous yeast fermentations, whole-bunch vinification in concrete vats, and minimal sulfite use (10 mg/l at racking, none at bottling). Wines are aged according to their cuvée, using 400-liter barrels and demi-muids, and remain unfined and unfiltered.
Renowned as a pioneer of organic viticulture in Juliénas, Louis-Clément crafts wines that reflect the depth and character of their terroirs, offering aromatic finesse, complexity, and aging potential. His dedication ensures Domaine David-Beaupère's wines stand out as authentic expressions of place.
This Beaujolais-Villages is crafted from fruit sourced in the neighboring villages of La Chapelle de Guinchay and Emeringes. The hand-harvested grapes underwent carbonic maceration in concrete tanks, followed by a gentle, light pressing.
- Producer: Domaine David-Beaupére
- Region: Julienas, France
- Variety: 100% Gamay
- Alcohol: 12%
Le Pavillon Champ Fleury Bordeaux
Before establishing himself in Montagne, Gonzague Maurice gained extensive experience in the wine industry. He spent two years in Sancerre and four years at a domaine in Haut-Médoc before undertaking specialized training at Chevalier (Pessac-Léognan), Château Poupille (Côtes de Castillon), and Domaine de l'Île Margaux. In 2005, he purchased an old winery along with 3.2 hectares of vines, which were in poor condition and required significant restoration. Over 3,000 vines needed replanting, and the concrete vats in the winery, while functional, required extensive cleaning to remove a thick layer of scale. Once operational, Maurice expanded the estate, which now includes 7.5 hectares in Montagne Saint-Émilion, 2.5 hectares in Puisseguin Saint-Émilion, and 3 hectares in Côtes de Castillon.
This Bordeaux combines classic elegance with a relaxed, approachable charm. Predominantly Merlot from the St-Émilion area, it showcases aromas of blackcurrant, tilled earth, dark chocolate, and vanilla bean. The palate offers deep black cherry, currant, fresh raspberries, and hints of black dirt, balanced by gentle yet firm tannins. While true to its Bordeaux roots, this wine exudes warmth and ease, making it a perfect companion for casual indulgences like duck-fat fries, charcuterie, or homemade smash burgers. Easy-drinking yet substantial, it’s Bordeaux with its collar unbuttoned.
- Producer: Gonzague Maurice
- Region: Bordeaux, France
- Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
- Alcohol: 14%
Les Equilibristes Babil Red
Les Équilibristes, a collective founded in 2015 by Francois, a Parisian restaurateur and wine merchant, and Florent, a winemaker and winery director, aims to challenge traditional boundaries in the wine world. Their approach emphasizes collaboration and creativity, crafting wines that are delicate, elegant, and daring. Inspired by their shared experiences during harvests and vinifications, they named the collective "Les Équilibristes" ("The Tightrope Walkers") to reflect their passion for balancing risk and control in their winemaking process. Their philosophy is rooted in organic and biodynamic practices, using indigenous yeasts and avoiding corrective products to preserve the authenticity of the wine. They focus on grape varieties most closely tied to their terroir, employ mass selection, aerate the soil, and age wines in neutral, porous containers. With a commitment to low-sulphite production, Les Équilibristes creates wines that respect nature while showcasing elegance and complexity.
Babil is a cuvée crafted to embody the spirit of the south, delivering great freshness, minimal sweetness, and a bold, structured tannic profile. From the Pézenas appellation, the wine originates from clay, limestone, and schist soils. It is a blend of 60% Syrah, 20% Mourvèdre, and 20% Grenache, sourced from a certified organic vineyard with high-density planting, fan-pruning, green manures, and manual harvesting. The three grape varieties are macerated together with gentle extractions, and press wines are reincorporated. Aging is split between one-third in barrels and two-thirds in vats, resulting in a balanced and expressive wine.
- Producer: Les Equilibristes
- Region: Languedoc, France
- Variety: Pineau d'Aunis
- Alcohol: 11.7%