Jean Foillard Beaujolais Villages 2022
We have 8 in stock (Inventory is live and accurate)
The Land
Jean Foillard’s Beaujolais-Villages comes from vineyards just outside the boundaries of Morgon, where granite and crumbly schist soils echo the structure and minerality of the cru terroirs. These gently sloping hills, perched in the northern part of Beaujolais, benefit from warm days and cool nights—perfect for Gamay to reach full phenolic ripeness while retaining tension and lift. Though technically outside the cru, these sites share much of the same DNA, producing wines that far exceed their designation in complexity and character. The soils are poor, the yields low, and the sense of place unmistakable.
The Wine
Lithe, perfumed, and quietly serious, the 2022 Beaujolais-Villages shows Foillard’s signature touch: minimal intervention, maximum expression. Fermented with native yeasts and whole clusters and aged in cement, the wine is unfiltered, unfined, and full of life. Vivid red cherry, raspberry, and red flowers lead on the nose, underpinned with notes of crushed granite and hint of earthy funky aromas. The palate is juicy but precise—light on its feet, yet grounded by subtle tannin and a mineral spine. With its purity of fruit and unadorned honesty, this is Gamay in its most transparent form—village wine with a cru soul.
The People
Jean Foillard is a quiet icon of natural winemaking in Beaujolais. Since the 1980s, he has farmed his vines organically and embraced a low-intervention philosophy rooted in respect for terroir. Inspired by Jules Chauvet—the godfather of the natural wine movement—Foillard makes wines that are both soulful and structured, always fermenting with indigenous yeasts, avoiding sulfur whenever possible, and bottling without filtration. Though best known for his Morgon, his Beaujolais-Villages is a study in restraint and elegance, capturing the essence of Gamay and the land it springs from. For Foillard, even a humble bottle carries the same commitment to purity and place.
We ship wine to most states with a $100 minimum order for shipping. We don't ship spirits nor beer.
Weather shipping advisory: Orders placed during times of extreme heat or extreme cold will be held for no charge until more favorable weather returns.
Beaujolais stands on its own as a unique source of the world's greatest Gamay wines and one of the birthplaces of the natural wine movement. The 10 crus on the north side provide the most serious versions including Morgon and Moulin-a-Vent, but the more basic reds further south are vibrant and affordable. There's also a rare white made from Chardonnay.
Beaujolais
A red wine grape most associated with Beaujolais, Gamay makes fresh, fruity red wines with berry and violet aromas. It is grown around the world outside of France where it is often a darker and less tannic cousin to Pinot Noir in cool climate regions such as Oregon and Victoria.
