Fleurie Grille Midi

2015
Terres Dorées
France
Beaujolais

100% Gamay. 100% Gamay. Fleurie is one of Jean-Paul's two largest cru holdings, 6 hectares all within the famous lieu-dit of Grille Midi, a south-facing amphitheater of vines on poor, sandy, decomposed-granite soils over hard granite rock. The "regular" Fleurie bottling does not indicate the pedigree of the site, whereas the Grille Midi bottling features it prominently on the label. Grille Midi is sunny, hot, high-ripening but low-yielding and produces Gamay of great power, especially in the case of older vines like Jean-Paul's that date back to the 1950's. He isolates those vines in this bottling and ages it, uncharacteristically for him, in foudres, for 8-10 months; otherwise, the wine is made the exact same traditional Burgundian way as the rest of his wines, with a longer maceration (up to 6 weeks).

91+ points
"The 2015 Fleurie “Grillé Midi” from Jean-Paul Brun is quite black fruity on the nose and nicely roasted in profile, but also precise, sappy and vibrant in its aromatic profile, as it offers up scents of black cherries, a bit of smoked meats, dark chocolate, fresh thyme, lovely soil tones, violets and a smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and a bit tannic, with a superb core, fine focus and grip, good balance and fine length and grip on the nascently complex finish. This is listed at 12.5 percent octane and I would not be surprised if this is fairly close, as this does not seem like a particularly ripe and muscle-bound 2015, but rather a very nicely structured wine for the long haul. Fine juice. 2019-2030+. "
John Gilman,
View From the Cellar
, Fall 2017
91 points
"The 2015 Fleurie Grille Midi has a lively, quite feisty bouquet with ample black cherries, raspberry and hints of dark chocolate that are well defined. The palate is very well balanced with supple tannin and a fine thread of acidity. It is typically modern in style, but Jean-Paul infuses such finesse and detail into this Fleurie that it is nigh irresistible. Give this Fleurie two years in bottle to get the most from it."
Neal Martin,
Wine Advocate
, August 31. 2017
93 points
"Deep ruby. An intensely perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red fruits, Asian spices and a strong blast of smoky minerals. In a distinctly elegant, precise style, offering seamless, appealingly sweet raspberry, lavender pastille and spicecake flavors that show excellent depth as well as finesse. In a silky, seductive style, but this wine also has firm structure thanks to a core of juicy acidity, which adds nerve to the very long, floral-dominated finish."
Josh Raynolds,
Vinous Media
, December 2017

SKU/Code: 
DB0489-15
Product Line: 
Wine
Red
Varietal: 
Gamay
Farming Type: 
Sustainable