Julien Sunier Régnié 2020

About the wine:

APPELLATION: Beaujolais, Regnie

VARIETALS: Gamay

ORGANIC: Practicing

VINEYARD: Situated at the base of the Cote du Py hillside on edge of the Morgon appellation, this parcel of 1.1 hectares is known as En Oeillat and has an average vine age of 60 years.SOILSanded and pink granite, clay sub-soil

VITICULTURE: Organic farming, harvesting done entirely by  hand.

VINIFICATION: Indigenous yeast fermentations in concrete vats at low temperatures, to preserve fresh fruit flavors and a delicate tannic structure. After fermentations are complete, fruit is slowly pressed, over a 24 hour period, using an ancient vertical press Julien acquired in the Côte D’Or.

AGING: 20% aged in cement and 80% in neutral French barrels.

About the producer:

Dijon-born Julien Sunier caught the wine bug working in Christophe Roumier’s vineyards and cellar, which eventually sent him south to New Zealand and west to California – both surfing meccas – before settling in Beaujolais. 

As a young dynamo with an enthusiasm for organic vinticulture, Julien succesfully secured densely planted, old-vine, high altitude parcels in the Cru villages of Fleurie, Morgon and Régnié.

Gentle handling of fruit from harvest to press, followed by 11 months of ageing in used Burgundy barrels lead to lifted, lacy, ethereal wines that are reminiscent of Julien’s Chambolle beginnings.