2024 Dominique Piron ‘Coq Léon’

95% Gamay from Beaujolais and Beaujolais Villages combined with 5% Gamaret, a little known varietal created in the 1990s by crossing Gamay with Reichensteiner. Farming is sustainable. Hand harvesgted, fermented with native yeasts and semi-carbonic whole berry fermentation. Fermented and aged in cement vat. 12% alcohol.

This light bodied, low tannin, fruit red wine is perfect at room temp or out of the fridge. It’s full of fresh red fruit- raspberry, strawberry, cherry, and cranberry with hints of licorice, spice, leather and a faint earthiness. Silky and smooth.

Dominique Piron’s family has been growing grapes in Beaujolais since the 16th century, and Dominique took over the estate in 1971. Piron farms 110 acres  of vineyards scattered among several different crus in Beaujolais, namely Morgon, Chénas, Brouilly, Régnié and Moulin-à-Vent. He owns some parcels, rents others, and also buys 50 acres worth of carefully selected grapes from their neighbors. Regardless of where the grapes are sourced, Piron is responsible for every aspect of quality-control from the vineyard management to the marketing of the finished wine. They takes such great care of each of their crus that even the simple Beaujolais and Beaujolais-Villages wines are carefully selected from single-vineyard parcels. Each of their terroirs is unique, yet they are all granite-based soils—the ideal grounding for the Gamay grape. Piron farms sustainably, although he has also been experimenting with organic methods to achieve a rich biodiversity in the vineyards.  Dominique and his team are extremely traditional in their vinifications, using whole cluster fermentations whenever possible.