2017 Jean Foillard Morgon Cote du Py

Jean Foillard is a fervent supporter, like Marcel Lapierre, of the natural wine growing and making methods of the legendary Jules Chauvet. This includes keeping whole clusters of grapes in vats for 2 to 3 weeks at a low temperature before fermentation, using only natural yeast, no pumping, no fining and no filtration. Furthermore he ages his wine in barrels brought from the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti..... the results are sublime. He is a cult wine hero amongst the very many young, free-spirited vignerons in France who are now looking back to nature to make fine wine.

Morgon from Foillard shows wonderfully fresh, pure aromas of cherries and blackberries combined with a haunting, otherworldly complexity that is distinctly Foillard. The word diaphanous is perfect to describe the aromas of his wines; you can almost smell through them. In the mouth, again there’s a wonderful transparency. Crunchy, fresh fruit is complemented by a satiny, silky structure and some delicate spice. Elegant, soft, smooth and pure, in many ways these wines have more in common sensually with Chambolle-Musigny than regular, ‘run of the mill’ Beaujolais. A must try wine for wine lovers who have not yet discovered this treasure of ‘true’ Beaujolais.

Other Reviews....
A juicy and wild red with berry, plum and fresh basil. Medium body, light tannins. Fruity and delicious. Real wine here. Earthy and complex. Drink and enjoy.
94 points
James Suckling

Foillard's just-released 2017 Morgon Côte du Py is a great success, unwinding in the glass with aromas of red fruit compote and cherries that are complemented with aeration by beautiful top notes of rose petal, blood orange and violets. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, with a generous core of ripe but succulent fruit, tangy acids and powdery structuring tannins that assert themselves gently on the long, sapid finish. This is somewhat more sun-kissed in profile than the 2016, and I'm inclined to give the latter vintage a slight edge, but it also needs a year or two in bottle.
94 points
The Wine Advocate

We finished with a 2017 Morgon Côte du Py from Jean Foillard, which showed up the Kiwi Pinot. The color was iridescent, the bouquet pure Gamay in full flight: copious blueberries, cassis, crushed violets and blood oranges, all delivered with superb delineation and brightness. The palate harnessed the vivacity and unpretentiousness of Gamay with fine tannins, pure, tart black and red fruit and veins of blueberry. There was a gentle but insistent grip on a finish of supreme length. An outstanding Beaujolais wine, but frankly, I expected nothing less from this producer.
94 points
Vinous