From: Beaujolais, France
Varietal: Gamay
Taste: On the nose, it opens with fresh hay and delicate floral notes of rose petals and peony, alongside hints of wet wheat fields and moss, evoking the scent of the earth before rain. The palate is silky and smooth, marked by vibrant red fruit—cranberry, strawberry, and raspberry jam—intertwined with subtle herbal undertones. A light white pepper and orange zest spiciness adds depth, while the tannins are refined and well-integrated.
Pairing: A classic choice is Coq au Vin, where the wine’s acidity and fine tannins complement the rich sauce and tender chicken. For a more delicate pairing, steak tartare highlights the wine’s freshness and minerality, balancing the dish’s savory and slightly spicy flavors. A charcuterie board with saucisson sec, pâté, pickles, and cheeses highlights the Fleurie’s complexity and reflects the wine’s depth and light, lively nature.
For heartier fare, duck confit is an excellent match. The wine’s vibrant acidity cuts through the richness of the duck, while its fruity and floral notes harmonize with the crispy, tender meat. Pork neck, slow-roasted or grilled, also finds balance in this wine’s smooth tannins and fresh red fruit flavors. For those seeking a more contemporary twist, Asian cuisines like glazed pork or duck with soy and ginger will bring out the wine’s bright, fruity character and subtle spice.
Pressure Cooker Korean Soy-Glazed Pork Belly
By Kay Chun
About: Jean Foillard, synonymous with high-quality, natural Beaujolais wines, has captivated wine lovers globally with his faithful representation of the Gamay grape. His approach to winemaking harks back to the fundamentals of terroir-driven, non-interventionist practices, creating wines that speak directly to the land and heritage of the Beaujolais region.
Jean Foillard’s story begins in the village of Villié-Morgon, where his family had farmed vineyards for several generations. However, in the early 1980s, Jean took over the family estate and began to make his mark. In 1981, Foillard made a pivotal decision that would shape his future as a winemaker—he met Marcel Lapierre, a fellow revolutionary vigneron from Beaujolais who was deeply influenced by the teachings of Jules Chauvet, the father of the natural wine movement.
This encounter with Lapierre set Jean Foillard on a path toward natural winemaking, emphasizing minimal intervention, the absence of synthetic chemicals in the vineyard, and a focus on the authentic expression of terroir. By the mid-1980s, Foillard began gaining recognition for producing wines that stood apart from the mass-produced, industrial Beaujolais Nouveau flooding the market then. Instead, his wines came to embody purity, complexity, and a reflection of their origins.
