Fleurie Clos Vernay, Domaine Lafarge Vial 2023

Clos Vernay is a special plot situated at 400-450 meters in elevation surrounded by forest, with granite and quartz that impart clarity and freshness to the wine year after year. The 2023 Fleurie Clos Vernay is lush with aromas of sweet dark berries, licorice, spearmint, ginger spice and vanilla. The full-bodied wine offers substantial material, though the palate remains invigorated and uplifted, given its bright acidity. The integrated, smooth-coated tannins encapsulate the wine, finishing on a satisfying high with tones of flint and sea salt. This is a standout wine defined by its purity and impressive depth.

Domaine Lafarge-Vial, established by the Lafarge family in 2014, spans 6.5 hectares within Fleurie, Chiroubles and the Côte de Brouilly. The vines are farmed biodynamically under the Demeter certification. Mostly planted with old vines, the vineyards are worked with the goal of enriching the soil profiles, utilizing cover crops in the winter, 500P, 501 and herbal tea sprays. The domaine aims for refined, made-to-last Beaujolais, while still retaining the fruit's natural-born opulence. Thus, in the cellar, they opt to destem about 80% of the grapes, mostly by hand, after which the grapes undergo a two-week ambient yeast fermentation with daily pump-overs and a few punch-downs throughout. The wines are aged for 15 months in combinations of used 228- and 350-liter barrels and foudres sourced from the domaine in Volnay. The 2023s present a more polished and refined expression compared to the 2022s, exhibiting a slimmer, more dynamic profile while still capturing the beautifully luscious flavors all the same.