CASE BUY ALERT: The Greatest Value in France?

The Beaujolais Benchmark

Is it still good? Better than ever. Do you still want it? You should if you know what’s good for you. We’ll let the wine speak for itself—and use the words we’ve already penned to fill in the details.

From Previous Offers: Alain Coudert’s iconic “Clos de la Roilette” is a red analogue of sorts to Marc Ollivier’s Muscadet “Clos des Briords,” offering, almost without question, the finest quality wine for the greatest value in perhaps all of French winedom. Not only is it delicious, ageworthy and capable of pairing with any range of foods from fish to fowl to flank steak—it’s hard to believe for a wine so entwined in the history of Beaujolais and which lays claim to a long heritage of being one of the finest, if not the finest of the appellation.

As Joe Dressner told the story:

“In the 20’s, when the Fleurie appellation was first created, the former landowner was infuriated with losing the Moulin-à-Vent appellation under which the Clos had previously been classified. He created a label, using a photograph of his racehorse Roilette, and used the name Clos de la Roilette, without mentioning Fleurie. The owner vowed not to sell a drop of his wine on the French market and the production went to Switzerland, Germany and England.”

Today, we’re happy to report the wine now enjoys a good many fans in France, as well as here in the US. This is always one of France’s most satisfyingly delicious wines—in every vintage. Don’t miss out.

Critical Praise

91+ Points, Robert Parker
The 2023 Fleurie opens on the nose with notes of peonies, licorice, sous-bois and dark black fruits. Full-bodied and with ripe acidity, the wine has considerable weight, opening with broad shoulders, though centered by its sandpaper tannins that bring the wine back into a focused trajectory. As the wine develops, layers of soy and graphite emerge, highlighting its unique manganese terroir and adding savory complexity to the robust, structured profile.

92 Points, James Suckling
A prototypical Fleurie with a wealth of red cherry, red berry and ripe strawberry aromas, plus a savory element that is deftly interwoven with this. Gentle, velvety tannins give the medium-bodied palate well-defined contours and a certain gracefulness. Mineral acidity keeps the finish bright and straight.