COUNTRY :
France
REGION :
Beaujolais
PRODUCTION :
Julien Merle
Julien Merle is a Beaujolais guy. He took over his parents’ estate about 8 years ago. His parents, like most Beaujolais winemakers sold their grapes, and in some cases bulk wine, to larger negociant producers. When he took over the winery, he became friends with Jean Foillard and Guy Breton who encouraged Julien to begin bottling his own wine. Over the years he has introduced horse plowing, natural yeasts, and now makes the wines totally without additives. Simple, straight forward gluggers.
“La Passée du Merle”
Region: Burgundy
Grape: Gamay, Pinot Noir
Vineyard Size: 8 hectares
Soil: clay, limestone
Average Age of Vines: 65 years
Farming: biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: 12 day semi-carbonic maceration, spontaneous fermentation in neutral oak with indigenous yeasts
Aging: 14 months in neutral oak
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: none
“Bord d’aile de Merle”
Region: Burgundy
Grape: Gamay
Vineyard Size: 8 hectares
Soil: clay, limestone, granite
Average Age of Vines: 65 years
Farming: biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: 8 day carbonic maceration, spontaneous fermentation in neutral oak with indigenous yeasts
Aging: in neutral oak
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: none
“Blanc Bec”
Region: Burgundy
Grape: Chardonnay
Vineyard Size: 8 hectares
Soil: clay, limestone, granite
Average Age of Vines: 65 years
Farming: biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: spontaneous fermentation in neutral oak with indigenous yeasts
Aging: in neutral oak
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: none
“Champ Blanc”
Region: Burgundy
Grape: Gamay
Vineyard Size: 4.50 hectares
Soil: clay, limestone, granite
Average Age of Vines: 65 years
Farming: biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: 8-10 day semi-carbonic maceration, spontaneous fermentation in neutral oak with indigenous yeasts
Aging: in neutral oak
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: none
“Philibert”
Region: Burgundy
Grape: Gamay
Vineyard Size: 8 hectares
Soil: clay, limestone, granite
Average Age of Vines: 65 years
Farming: biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: spontaneous fermentation in neutral oak with indigenous yeasts
Aging: 10 months in neutral oak
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: none