Foillard

History of the Jean Foillard Estate

The Jean Foillard Estate, founded at the heart of the Morgon appellation, took off in 1981 when Jean Foillard took over the reins of the family vineyard. Heir to a long winemaking tradition, he is the son and grandson of winegrowers. However, beyond the family heritage, Jean has managed to steer the estate towards a radically different philosophy, inspired by his neighbour Marcel Lapierre, an emblematic figure of natural wines, himself a disciple of the famous oenologist Jules Chauvet.

It was in 1985 that Jean Foillard embarked on a shift towards natural wine production, banning herbicides and pesticides and adopting minimalist winemaking methods. Over the decades, this 8-hectare estate at the outset has become one of the greatest references in Beaujolais, now extending over nearly 20 hectares. Jean Foillard's commitment to organic viticulture and natural winemaking has quickly placed his wines among the most sought-after by enthusiasts around the world.

Today, Jean is gradually passing the estate on to his son Alex, who perpetuates the family tradition while bringing a new sensitivity, having himself taken over a few hectares of vines in his own name.

Terroirs and Vines of the Jean Foillard Estate

The Jean Foillard Estate mainly exploits two of the greatest terroirs of the Morgon appellation: the mythical Côte du Py and the renowned Corcelette. The Côte du Py is particularly famous for its soils composed of granitic schists and decomposed rocks, offering the wines a rich structure and unique depth. As for the Corcelette climate, its sandy and granitic soils allow the production of more fruity, delicate and gourmand wines.

In addition to Morgon, the estate also has a few plots in the neighbouring Fleurie appellation, which produces wines of great elegance. Jean Foillard and his team cultivate these vines according to strict organic principles. The soils are ploughed manually, and yields are limited to guarantee the quality of the grapes. In difficult vintages, such as 2021 when frost severely affected the vines, yields drop considerably, attesting to the meticulous attention paid to each plot.

Winemaking at the Jean Foillard Estate

Winemaking at the Jean Foillard Estate is based on traditional principles, respectful of the fruit and the environment. The harvest is carried out manually, guaranteeing a rigorous selection of the bunches. After the harvest, the grapes spend a night in a cold room to maintain an ideal temperature for maceration.

The preferred method at the estate is semi-carbonic maceration, where whole bunches are used, without the addition of external yeasts. This method allows the freshness of the Gamay noir à jus blanc grape variety, emblematic of Beaujolais, to be preserved. Fermentation takes place in concrete vats, providing a stable temperature, and the ageing continues for 7 to 9 months in oak barrels.

Jean Foillard uses little or no sulphur during winemaking. A small dose may be added during bottling, but the wines are neither fined nor filtered, in order to preserve all their vivacity and complexity. Meticulous microscope monitoring is also carried out throughout the process, guaranteeing exceptional precision in winemaking.

The cuvées of the Jean Foillard Estate

The Jean Foillard Estate produces several iconic cuvées, recognised for their finesse and depth. Here is a presentation of the main cuvées:

Morgon "Classique" : A wine of dazzling freshness, perfect to drink young, but which can also be kept for a few years. This Morgon is an ideal introduction to the estate's wines.

Morgon Côte du Py : The estate's flagship cuvée, from the famous terroir of the Côte du Py. This wine stands out for its fruit intensity, silky structure and great ageing potential. It embodies the full richness of Morgon.

Morgon Corcelette : This cuvée, from the sandy terroir of Corcelette, reveals fruity aromas and a velvety palate. Its finesse and elegance make it a much-appreciated wine for Gamay lovers.

Morgon 3.14 : Produced only in exceptional vintages, this cuvée comes from the oldest vines on the Côte du Py. It is characterised by its depth and ageing potential.

Fleurie : This wine, from plots located in the neighbouring appellation, is distinguished by its fruit purity and silky texture. Aged in oak barrels, it improves after a few years of cellaring.

Beaujolais Nouveau : The estate also produces a Beaujolais Nouveau cuvée, offering a crunchy, fruity and gourmand wine, perfect for a quick tasting.

Certain vintages of the Jean Foillard Estate are particularly remarkable and deserve to be mentioned. Here are a few years not to be missed: 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021...

If you are a lover of Beaujolais wines, it is also interesting to discover the work of Domaine Marcel Lapierre, Domaine Jean Claude Lapalu, Domaine Dutraive, Domaine Jean Michel Dupré, Domaine Philippe Pacalet, Domaine Jules Desjourneys, Domaine Georges Descombes, Château Thivin...

The Jean Foillard Estate is a true institution in the world of Beaujolais and natural wines. With a philosophy focused on respecting terroirs and minimalist winemaking, the estate's wines are distinguished by their freshness, precision and elegance. Whether you are a lover of Morgon, Fleurie or Beaujolais Nouveau, each Jean Foillard cuvée offers a unique experience, magnifying the Gamay grape variety like few estates can.