Domaine Grégoire Hoppenot 'Clos de L'Amandier' Fleurie, 2021

Named ‘Discovery of the Year’ in 2021’s Revue des Vins de France, Grégoire Hoppenot installed himself in Fleurie following two years as director of the Chapoutier-owned Maison Trénel in Beaujolais. Grégoire has leased nine hectares, along with a small plot in Morgon, which comprises several enviable parcels: Les Moriers, Les Garants, Poncié, La Roilette and Les Roches in Fleurie, and Corcelette in Morgon. Grégoire is meticulous and gentle in both vineyards and cellar. He describes his winemaking as ‘intuitive’, using indigenous yeasts and low sulphur, and practises organic farming in the vineyard.

Le Clos de l'Amandier is a monopoly of the estate located at the south-eastern end of the Poncié climate.

Vinification: maceration of 12-15 days in whole bunches carried out in concrete vats of 60 Hl. Maintain temperatures below 30°C. Grilled tank in order to immerse the cap during all the macerations. Load shedding at the end of maceration to prolong fermentation.

Vinification in indigenous yeast, without SO2. Light sulphiting after the malolactic fermentation.

Ageing: 8 months in barrels and Burgundian barrels of 4-5 wines (15%).