Domaine Metrat Fleurie La Roilette Vieilles Vignes 2022 magnum

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

From vines planted 1924 and 1936. La Roilette is regarded as one of the best sites in Fleurie, and this old vines cuvee (60-80 years old vines) is produced from a patch of vines planted in pink granite-clay soil located beside the winery in the northern part of the appellation beside Moulin-a-Vent. 15% of this cuvee is vinified in barrel (none new) giving extra dimension to its freshness and perfume, will also age for 10+ years. This is Gamay at it’s finest and beautifully perfumed best.

‘La Roilette cru sits on very deep black granite. Historically, La Roilette used to be part of Moulin-à-Vent, which borders it to the east. In 1920, when Fleurie was demarcated, La Roilette ended up in Fleurie. This wine comes from vines planted in the 1920s and 1930s, and it has amazing density and precision.’ Jamie Goode, wineanorak.com. 

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!