about the best glouglou you'll find.

—Neal Martin, Vinous

Lapierre's Morgon set the wine world on fire. It sparked a revolution in Beaujolais, introduced American palates to lighter, fresher reds, and practically single-handedly birthed the natural wine movement. But the Gamays we'll be drinking this summer are Lapierre's baby wines, Raisins Gaulois and Le Beaujolais.

The Raisins Gaulois has been a fan favorite for years now. It's made specifically for early drinking, from young vines in Morgon ('only' 15 years old on average — not especially young by most standards, but babies compared to what goes into the Morgon, many of which are over 100 years old).

Mathieu and Camille let these vigorous vines produce a little more fruit than the Morgon designation allows, so they're declassified. But that's ok, because it makes the wine even fresher and more easy-drinking, with lower alcohol and pure, pure fruit. Crushable, chillable, and as Neal Martin says, "unbeatable glouglou."

But what if you want something a bit more complex than the Raisins Gaulois, but still crushable? Le Beaujolais! Kermit Lynch calls this the "mid-way cuvée between “Raisins Gaulois” and Morgon", and you see that both in the taste and in the technical details. It's a silky and succulent Gamay from Lancié, a village just outside Morgon with similar decomposed granite soils.

Lapierre is a legend and we're always thrilled to have the wine on our shelves. But we're particularly thrilled to be able to share wines that are so perfect for the time of year, and still so reasonably priced. Of course, these won't last long — especially the Le Beaujolais, which comes from just 2.5 hectares. So don't wait!

Marcel Lapierre, Raisins Gaulois, 2022 $23.99

Marcel Lapierre, Le Beaujolais, 2023 $37.99
"The 2023 Le Beaujolais, which debuted after the devastating 2021 vintage forced Lapierre to introduce a new wine to his lineup, comes from 1.5 hectares dedicated to this new cuvée. It has a lovely, heartwarming bouquet with red cherries and just a faint hint of autumn leaf. The palate is well balanced with crunchy red fruit and a pinch of white pepper, vibrant on the finish. Delicious." Neal Martin, Vinous

 

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