Beaujolais fans took immediate notice of Alex Foillard's wines.
He was 24 years old when he started his project. Now in his third vintage, it's clear that he has an extraordinary ability to coax aromatic complexity and silky texture from the Gamay grape.
This isn't surprising. Alex grew up working with his father in the winery and cellar and continues to do so today. If you know Jean Foillard's wines, it's easy to detect a similar textural appeal and purity in Alex's wines.
After graduating from wine school in Beaune, Alex returned to his family's domaine in 2015 and began searching for his own patch of vines. He ended up with a hectare of Côte de Brouilly and half a hectare of Brouilly.
Alex Foillard follows similar methods as his father and other members of the legendary "gang of four" (carbonic maceration, minimal sulphur and only at bottling, etc.). Even at this early point, he seems masterful at the process. The wines have a beautiful purity.
The Côte de Brouilly is from Chavanne, a north-facing lieu-dit, with soils of granite and schist with a thin layer of sand over top. It produces a structured and very mineral Beaujolais.
One of the fascinating qualities of the 2018 vintage in Beaujolais is how it combines ripeness with freshness. The Côte de Brouilly is thrillingly clear and powerful, animated by a core of stony minerality and brightness. It's quite structured, but is sheathed in a beautifully pure, suave fruit. Josh Raynolds captures the wine very well when he writes: "Superb, mineral-driven persistence."
Along with Fleurie, Moulin-a-Vent, and Morgon, Côte de Brouilly is one of Beaujolais' top Crus. Alex Foillard lays bare the importance of Côte de Brouilly in a profound and extremely compelling way. This is irresistibly delicious and expertly composed. We very much suggest that you take advantage of the special 4-pack pricing.
To order, email offers@crushwineco.com or call the store at (212) 980-9463.
Or, buy online below.
Joe Salamone
Wine Buyer
Crush Wine & Spirits
Josh Raynolds, Vinous Media:
"Vivid ruby. Powerful red/dark berry aromas pick up a sexy floral quality and a touch of spiciness with air. Concentrated yet lively in style, offering palate-staining, mineral-tinged black raspberry, bitter cherry and blood orange flavors that show excellent clarity and turn sweeter on the back half. Shows a touch of candied licorice on the gently tannic finish, which lingers with superb, mineral-driven persistence."
