There is a very exciting renaissance that has been happening in the Beaujolais region of France, and at its core is a new generation of winemakers that have learned everything they know from their progenitors. To pair with that unparalleled guidance, there is a youthful energy and worldly view that is taking the wines and the region to yet again new heights. Sébastien Besson is now the fourth generation of the family to take the helm at Domaine du Penlois, which originated in the 1920's by his great-grandfather Benoît, situated on the small hill called Lancié (nestled in between Morgon, Fleuri, and Moulin-à-Vent). Sébastien's father, Maxence, took over in 1977 and accrued more and more Cru vineyards in the region, giving the Domaine 30 hectares in total. While making sustainably farmed Domaine wines with his father, Sébastien began an eponymous project in 2016. He converted small granite-rich plots on the property to strict organic farming, spanning not only portions of their Village Appellation sites, but parcels of three Crus as well (a total of 7 hectares). With natural fermentations and aging in concrete vats, and a small sulfur addition before bottling, the wines of Sébasten Besson are pure, driven, and remarkable expressions of top Beaujolais.
sébastien besson beaujolais villages
100% gamay The Sébastien Besson Beaujolais Villages is a gorgeous and bright example of some of the estate’s organically farmed fruit. 35-year-old bush vine Gamay from a few plots of granite filled soil, situated right around the cellar in Lancié, are hand harvested and brought to the winery in small baskets. The grapes bunches remain in a cold room for a night to retain the expressive aromatics before they are placed into concrete vats for natural whole-cluster fermentation. Only one or two pump overs are performed daily for just over two weeks before a gentle pressing off of the skins, and then back into the concrete to finish its fermentation. Then after six months of aging, a small sulfur addition is made before the wine is bottled. The expressive wine that results is full of bright and juicy brambly fruit on the nose, with hints of forest floor and stone, and fresh purple violets. The palate is vibrant and has enticing fruit for days; raspberry, tart cherry, and a soft umami character that dances beautifully with the lively acidity. 
sébastien besson morgon
100% gamay The Morgon comes from the granite soils on the northern side of the Cru, are all estate bush vines, and hand-harvested when the balance in the fruit is perfect. The grapes are kept cold for an evening before being placed, as whole clusters, into both stainless steel tanks and cement vats, in order to retain some of the phenolic character and aromatics that the 35-year-old vines give. Natural fermentation begins and only 1 to 2 pump-overs are performed daily for 17 days, until a gentle pressing off the skins and the wine is returned to its vessel and ages for 7 months in concrete before bottling. The resulting wine is vibrant and alive, with juicy mountain fruit, black velvet roses, thorny bramble, and a captivatingly wild and fresh floral nuance. In the mouth this Gamay is packed with acidity to play with the ripe raspberries, the best cherries in the bowl, stony earth, juice dripping strawberries, and purple flower buds; the tannins are soft and the finish goes forever. |
sébastien besson chenas
100% gamay The Chenas is a well-structured example of bush vine Gamay that grows on the intense granite soils of the Cru. When the grapes reach their ideal balance between sugar and acidity, they are hand harvested and brought to the cellar in Lancié. Natural fermentation in both stainless and cement takes place with whole clusters, until they are gently pressed after a couple of weeks, returned to their vessel to complete fermenting, and then aged in concrete for about 6 months. A light sulfur addition was made before bottling, and then after 5 months in bottle, the wine was released to market. A robustly pretty nose of red berries and flowers shoots forth from the dark hued juice in the glass, and leads to a well-structured, yet crunchy freshness in the mouth. The length and finesse in this wine are absolutely delicious, with ample acidity, bright fruit, floral hints, and stone. 
sébastien besson julienas
100% gamay The Juliénas comes from a small parcel of estate fruit within this esteemed northern Cru. All bush vine Gamay that is hand harvested when the balance between sugar and acidity is perfect, the grapes are brought to the cellar for an evening in a cold room in order to retain some phenolic and aromatic character. Whole cluster fermentation begins naturally after the grapes are placed into both concrete and stainless steel vats for 17 days before a gentle pressing. The wine is then placed back into the same vessels to finish fermentation and rests in concrete for close to six months, and sees a small dose of sulfites before it is bottled. The aromas are explosive with mountain blueberry, ripe red cherry, the crust of a mixed berry pie, clove, orange zest, and fresh cut flowers. In the mouth the fruit hits with brightness, yet has a bit of density behind it to fill the palate from front to back, all to be lifted again in a finish of lively acidity, soft tannin, and lingering red fruit. |