Jean-Paul et Charly Thévenet Morgon La Roche Pilée 2023

Jean‑Paul Thévenet is one of the original handful of producers who helped spark the natural‑wine movement in Beaujolais in the 1980s - the group Kermit Lynch famously dubbed “The Gang of Four”. Inspired by his dear friend and Beaujolais legend Marcel Lapierre, he abandoned fertilisers, pesticides and practices such as chaptalisation in favour of organic farming and minimal intervention in the winery. In doing so, he redefined what is possible from gnarly, old‑vine Gamay grown on granite.

Made from vines planted in 1953, 1980-90 on the slopes just above the village of Villié-Morgon. These old vines grow at an altitude of 300-350 meters on rocky, decomposed granit soil, lending this wine its distinct minerality.

Beautifully perfumed, with beguiling aromas of red cherry, blackberry, sweet spice and violets. On the palate it is focused and energetic, driven by vibrant acidity and an alluring, crushed‑rock minerality that perfectly complements a core of moreish, succulent fruit.