Wine Reviews
2023 Juliénas, Domaine de Forétal
Nov
Joanna Simon, www.joannasimon.com, 7th Nov 2024Jean-Yves, fifth generation of the Perraud family at Domaine de Forétal, makes Juliénas of unalloyed purity and charm up in the hills in Vauxrenard.
The 2023 has a luminous raspberry fragrance, succulent, fleshy, red fruit, rock-pool minerality and coolness and very light, chalk-dust fine tannins.
It’s vinified traditionally, in cement, and Jean-Yves works the densely planted vines, traditionally and sustainably. The Juliénas vines have an average age of 45 years (the Moulin-à-Vent vines are even older) and the nine-hectare estate is Terra Vitis and HVE3 certified.
One of the things I love about Gamay in general, and the Beaujolais Crus above all, is how well they go with food. It’s quite hard to go wrong, although you could kill Forétal Juliénas, as you could most wines, with an injudicious curry, chilli or kimchi or an aggressive barbecue sauce.
You could also diminish it by serving it heavily chilled or too warm. Aim for cool – around 15–16ºC.
Just a few pairing ideas: roast chicken, coq au vin, quail, young lamb; seared tuna, salmon; smoked duck breast salad, rillettes, paté, bresaola and other air-dried and cured meats; hummus, spanakopita, vegetarian stuffed red peppers; or let it cut through heavier or fattier dishes such as cassoulet and pork belly. 13.5%. Empty bottle weight: 570g.
(£14.05 per bottle)
Save 11% on a case of 12 bottles