Julien Sunier 2020 Fleurie AOC
Item Number: 16272
UPC: None
Country: France
Region: Beaujolais
Sub Region: Beaujolais
Appellation/AVA: Fleurie AOC
Estate Grown Wine: Yes
Vintage: 2020
Grape(s): 100% Gamay
Type: Wine - Red
Bottle Size: 750 ml
Pack: 12
Closure: Cork
Alc by Vol(%): 12.5
Viticulture: Practicing Organic
Elevation: 270 and 470 meters
Lieux-Dits: Two superb parcels make up the 2020 Fleurie. The one at 270 meters on the locality "Grand Prés" brings generosity and the other called "La Tonne" at 450 meters altitude planted on an exceptional terroir of granitic mother rock, brings nice acidity and freshness. Slightly sloping and therefore not mechanized, the ground work is done with a winch system and pick axe.
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 9-11 months in 100% old Burgundy barrels. It is bottled unfined, unfiltered, and with a low addition of sulfites.
Tasting Notes: Raised like a great Burgundy, this seductive Fleurie is notable for its purity with a nose of violet flowers, iris, wild strawberry, and red fruit. The palate is a fresh and carries along minerality distinctive of place.
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."
93pts (2019 Vintage) Vinous 8/2021
"Smoky, mineral-tinged red fruit, spicecake, game and potpourri aromas are complemented by suggestions of allspice and licorice. Juicy bitter cherry and red currant flavors slowly flesh out and turn sweeter with aeration. Fine-grained tannins lend gentle grip to a long, red-fruit-dominated finish that hangs on with strong, spicy tenacity."