Jean Foillard Beaujolais-Villages 2021

While it’s impossible to trace the beginning of the ‘natural wine’ movement to any one producer, there can be little debate that Jean Foillard, along with three of his friends and colleagues in Beaujolais, were absolutely pioneers and paragons of the movement. For nearly half a century, minimal intervention, old vines, no pesticides/herbicides, stringent sorting, and no filtration have all been the only way to do things at Foillard. The results have been cumulative, and are simply stunning even in his village level wines. Wild cherries, pomegranate and roses, electric acidity, precise structure, earthen texture, and a lively character come together for an unforgettable experience.