Dom. Jean Foillard
Cote du Py
Morgon
2021

The producer

Domaine Jean Foillard is a revered producer in Morgon, one of the most celebrated crus of Beaujolais, France. Established in the 1980s, the domaine is known for its commitment to traditional and natural winemaking practices, which reflect the true essence of the Morgon terroir. Jean Foillard, the driving force behind the estate, is a key figure in the natural wine movement, adhering to practices such as organic farming, minimal intervention in the cellar, and the use of indigenous yeasts. His wines, particularly those from the famed Côte du Py vineyard, are renowned for their purity, depth, and complexity, offering vibrant expressions of Gamay with flavors of ripe red fruits, earthy undertones, and a remarkable minerality. Foillard's approach results in wines that are both fresh and age-worthy, making Domaine Jean Foillard a benchmark for quality in Beaujolais and a favorite among wine enthusiasts who appreciate authentic, terroir-driven wines.

The wine

The Domaine Jean Foillard Côte du Py Morgon 2021 is a stunning example of Gamay from one of Beaujolais’ most iconic terroirs. The 2021 vintage faced some challenges with a cooler growing season and lower yields, but these conditions contributed to a wine of remarkable finesse and precision. The Côte du Py vineyard, known for its schist, granite, and manganese-rich soils, imparts a distinct minerality and structure to the wine. In the glass, the 2021 vintage offers a vibrant bouquet of red berries, cherries, and floral notes, complemented by subtle earthy and spice undertones. On the palate, it is fresh and lively, with fine tannins and a well-balanced acidity that gives the wine a delightful energy. Despite its elegance and approachability in its youth, this vintage also has the potential to age gracefully, developing further complexity over time. The Domaine Jean Foillard Côte du Py Morgon 2021 is a pure and expressive representation of both the vineyard and the vintage, making it a standout choice for lovers of natural, terroir-driven wines.

We choose our wines based on a range of criteria (see how we choose our wines) of which critic scores is just one. Rather than simply highlight the best score to promote a wine, our average critic score is calculated from the scores provided by several respected wine critics, who we follow for specific regions. They do not represent all critic scores and, wherever possible, we try and give more weight to more recent reviews. Where appropriate we consider market-based scores like Global Wine Score or Wine Searcher Average scores.

As a rule, we look to offer wines that achieve a 92/100 average critic score or better and frankly a lot of very good wines simply don’t make the cut. As a high-end provider we want to reflect that positioning in the quality of wines we offer. Such wines are only a tiny fraction of those generally on offer in the market. We believe that an average score is a more conservative and representative approach, but it is still subjective and only offered as a guide to our customers, who will (and should) do their own research. We will add individual critic scores to our website in the future.