Wine Of The Week: Jean Foillard Morgon 2020

This spectacular Beaujolais is silky and lush with juicy dark fruit and a long finish.

While wine trends come and go, Beaujolais persists. While the region is small – approximately twice the size of Rhode Island — and really only grows one grape, Gamay, it’s surprisingly diverse. There are tart, funky chilled reds for the natural wine lover, and suave, plush rich reds for the more serious drinkers.  And, these bottles seem to go with everything. Barbeque? There’s a Beaujolais for that. Tacos? A fresh salad? A glass of wine on the couch? There’s a Beaujolais for that. 

There are four winemakers (known as the Gang of Four) we can credit for Beaujolais’ beauty. These four producers, including Jean Foillard and Marcel Lapierre, overhauled the region in the late 20th century, prioritizing organic farming and making wine with thought and intention.

All four make excellent wines, but Foillard’s are among my favorites, particularly at this time of year when the nights grow cold and I spend my days ringing every ounce of sunshine I can get before turning it in for the winter. This is his single-vineyard Morgon wine, with grapes hailing from 80-year-old vines. It’s spectacular. Silky, concentrated, and lush with juicy dark fruit and a long finish. Light in texture but still rich and wildly expressive. While many Beaujolais – particularly Beaujolais nouveau — is easy-going and carefree, these are more contemplative. $55