Julien Sunier 2017 Fleurie AOC
Item Number: 11736
UPC: None
Country: France
Region: Beaujolais
Sub Region: Beaujolais
Appellation/AVA: Fleurie AOC
Estate Grown Wine: Yes
Vintage: 2017
Grape(s): 100% Gamay
Type: Wine - Red
Bottle Size: 750 ml
Pack: 12
Closure: Cork
Alc by Vol(%): 11
Viticulture: Practicing Organic
Lieux Dits: Grapes were sourced from La Tonne and Charbonnieres, with a combined total of 2.85 hectares. Organic agriculture has been put in place for the totality of the domaine since its creation with six acres of vines certified Agriculture Biologique, 4 additional acres in organic conversion, and the remaining 10 acres left as meadow.
Winemaking Notes: The harvest is conducted entirely by hand. A careful selection is done in the vineyard, before each vine, so that only the grape bunches which will go into the tank are returned to the winery. Each transport bin is large as well as shallow so that grapes are not crushed in transit. The whole grape clusters are loaded into the tanks by gravity and saturated with inert gas CO2 in order to begin the alcoholic fermentation in an anaerobic state. Once the tanks are full, a gentle foot crushing is applied with care to start the carbonic fermentation with indigenous yeast. After one to three weeks of fermentation at low temperatures, the grapes are manually removed from the tank, without the aid of pump, and the juice drains from the solids slowly, during 24 hours, in a vertical wooden basket press Julien acquired in the Côte D’Or. The wine matures for eight months in 70% old Burgundy barrels and 30% tank. It is bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Tasting Notes: This seductive Fleurie is notable for its purity, with a nose of violet flowers, iris, wild strawberry and red fruits. On the palate there is a freshness carrying along minerality from its place of origin.
About Fleurie: From Vinepair : "While Fleurie may not have the power of the well-known crus of Moulin-a-Vent and Morgon, its charming, floral elegance makes just as much of a lasting impression. After these two crus, it is probably the most recognizable, as there are quite a few quality Fleurie producers exporting their wines to the U.S. A lighter style of cru Beaujolais, Fleurie is characterized by blossom-like red fruit and the unmistakable aromas of les fleurs rose and violet. Undoubtedly the prettiest of the crus, Fleurie is excellent chilled."
2016 Vintage #7 on Decanter's Most Exciting Wines of 2017 list (1/1/2018)
"A very fine example of a Gamay that blends the natural exuberance of the grape with great complexity and a warm, sunny character. Dusky blueberries and cherries and a melange of spice and nuttiness. Drinking beautifully but will age easily."