Domaine Metrat Morgon Terre d’Alizarine 2024 (screw cap)

Variety: Gamay
Country Region: France, Burgundy, Beaujolais
Appellation: Chiroubles

A new cuvee from Bernard with this being his second vintage produced. From just half a hectare of vines aged more than 70 years old facing full south on sandy granitic soil. The name is taken from from a plant that gives a red flower called Alizarine. Vinification is made all in cement tanks with 100% whole bunch and indigenous yeasts. Deep perfumed aromas with hints of violet and real depth and generosity and soft rich round tannins and exotic spices finishing fresh with balancing acidity. Drinking beautifully with fresh bright fruit and a full and deep palate backed by fine silky tannins giving this wine sufficient structure to develop for several years – but why wait when it is drinking so well now.

The Metrat family home and winery are to be found in the midst of the very highly regarded sector of Fleurie called La Roilette. La Roilette lies towards the bottom of the slope close to the border of Moulin a Vent and here the soil has a base of clay underneath the decomposed pink granite that is so typical of this area. This makes for wines that have a little more depth and structure than most other Fleuries.

The Fleuries from the Metrat family fall into this latter category and these wines are now showing very well with the old vines cuvee having a little more dimension and finesse than the traditional cuvee. The winemaking by the Metrat family is traditional with fermentation in cement and no artificial yeasts used, crop levels are kept low and hand harvested. The wines show great purity of fruit with ample perfume and silky texture. The extraction of tannins is gentle and although these wines are generally drunk young these wines from the Metrat family can confidently be enjoyed over 5 or 10 years if you can manage to keep your hands off them!

If only all Chiroubles could be as well crafted as Bernard Metrat’s! Neal Martin.