"The estate's red Beaujolais, aged with the same care as the Morgons, reveals a beautiful expression of fruit and freshness. It is a free-spirited and joyful Gamay, showcasing natural wine in its most accessible form, while maintaining a high standard of quality." — Domaine Marcel Lapierre.
The Beaujolais is the cuvée through which Mathieu and Camille Lapierre sought to make the estate’s philosophy accessible to all—without compromising on viticultural and winemaking practices, simply in a lighter and more direct style than the great Morgons. It is the ideal gateway into the Lapierre universe—the one you bring out with friends on a summer evening, slightly chilled, to understand why this estate has changed the world’s perception of Beaujolais.
Domaine Marcel Lapierre was founded in 1909 and today comprises 18 hectares of white-juiced black Gamay planted in Villié-Morgon. Mathieu and Camille Lapierre—son and daughter of Marcel, a pioneer of natural wine in Beaujolais—carry on the philosophy instilled by their father in the 1980s under the influence of the trailblazer Jules Chauvet: abandoning sulfur, commercial yeast, and chemical fertilizers, and adopting organic and biodynamic practices. The estate is certified Organic by AB Ecocert. The vines are on average 60 to 70 years old, trained in the goblet style, with a planting density of 10,000 vines per hectare, and no irrigation.
The Beaujolais comes from the estate’s plots classified under the Beaujolais appellation—the plots located outside the Morgon appellation’s boundaries, on light granite soils in the commune of Villié-Morgon. These granitic soils, which are shallower and sandier than those of Morgon’s finest hillsides, give the Gamay a lighter, more direct, and more immediately fruity expression—the one expected of a fun-to-drink Beaujolais. The harvest is entirely manual, with the grapes meticulously sorted in the vineyard and in the cellar to retain only the healthiest and ripest berries.
The winemaking process is identical to that of the Morgon wines—traditional Beaujolais semi-carbonic maceration, with no added SO2, no commercial yeast, and exclusively indigenous yeasts. The maceration period is shorter than for Morgon, resulting in a lighter, crisper wine, perfectly suited for drinking young and chilled. Aged in tanks to preserve the Gamay’s aromatic freshness and vibrant fruit. Bottled unfiltered.
The 2025 has a bright, vivid ruby color with the violet hues characteristic of Gamay. The nose is immediately rich and expressive—fresh cherry, raspberry, violet, and a light floral touch. The palate is light, juicy, and vibrant; the fruit is vibrant and crisp, and the nearly imperceptible tannins leave a sensation of fluidity and disconcerting ease. The finish is fresh and mouth-watering—"you bite into the fruit, lovely juice." A wine of pure, sincere pleasure, to be enjoyed now, slightly chilled.
Serve between 13 and 15 °C. Pairings: aperitif, Lyon-style charcuterie, rosette, sausage, pizza, pasta, burgers, light grilled meats, fresh cheeses. Best enjoyed within 2 to 3 years.
Discover all the vintages from Domaine Marcel Lapierre.
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