Beaujolais, Burgundy
The Story
When Jean Dutraive purchased the Domaine de la Grand’Cour in 1969, it was already one of the oldest domaines in Fleurie. Its 9 ha are divided between three contiguous lieux-dits: Grand’Cour, Chapelle des Bois and Champagne. The family also has 1.6 ha in Brouilly that have been in their family for five generations. Jean-Louis joined his father in 1977 and took over the domaine in 1989. The domaine has been certified organic since 2009, but practicing organic for decades prior. Jean-Louis strives to make vins de terroir above all else, and follows the same principles of winemaking for each of his cuvées: hand harvesting, whole-cluster, carbonic fermentation without any added sulphur, native yeasts, and no addition of oenologic products. This exotic beauty is the most understated and rustic in Jean-Louis’ range. There’s a striking purity and focus after some time in the glass. It’s the only wine in the range that spends time in old large foudre. This elevage slowly softens the piercing aromas of a wine a little more rustic and sauvage (but clean!) than the rest. It’s a beauty and underrated in a line-up of brilliantly expressive wines. Jean-Louis uses different levels of sulphur in his cuvées and this wine sees a single addition of 10 parts per million SO2 one month before bottling.
The Famille Dutraive range brings in the next generation; following severe hailstorms in 2016 and 2017, Jean-Louis & children began making wines from purchased grapes, bottled under this new label. The same philosophy is followed from vineyard to cellar, allowing for an expansion in experimentation.
Links
Wines
Domaine de la Grand’Cour
Brouilly VV
Fleurie Chapelle des Bois
Fleurie Clos de La Grand’Cour
Fleurie Le Clos vieilles vignes
Famille Dutraive
Beaujolais-Villages Haut du Bois de Leynes
Chenas Les Perelles
Chenas en Papolet
St.Amour Clos du Chapitre
Chiroubles
Fleurie La Tonne
Fleurie Le Pied de La Rue
Fleurie La Madone
