Domaine Marcel Lapierre - Morgon 2023

In the northern hills of Beaujolais lies the pastoral Villie-Morgan, one of the ten cru villages permitted to print its name on the bottle, and also considered home of one of the best wines in Beaujolais. An hour from Lyon, the second largest city in France, Villie-Morgan is a century away in atmosphere. It is also home to a group of groundbreaking and sometimes controversial winemakers.

Marcel Lapierre, strives to make wines as naturally as possible, in the vineyard and in the winery. Lapierre's vines average 40 years of age, and his grapes are always picked at the latest possible moment in order to obtain the ripest possible fruit. No pesticides or chemicals are used in the vineyards and no sulfur or yeast is added during fermentation. The resulting wines are pure and fruity, not overly alcoholic, and always a pleasure to drink.

Depending on vintage, the final cuvée is sourced from the Côte du Py and some combination of the following lieux-dits: Douby, Les Micouds, Corcelette, Fond Long, Aux Chênes, Pérou, Terrain rouge, Bellevue, La Roche Pilée, Montillet, Montpelain and Près Jourdans. Carbonic maceration without SO2, for 15-36 days. Ages 9 months in 228 liter barrels.

“This bottle of 2023 Morgon comes from the first bottling run completed in March 2024 (there will be five bottlings until September). Lapierre told me that this is destined for markets in Japan, Canada and a little for the US. The nose reveals dark berry fruit, sous-bois and light Indian ink aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins and crisp acidity, a little rustic in a good way with a slightly savory finish. Lovely.” - 92 Points, Vinous

“The Morgon bottling is the flagship for Marcel Lapierre, and the 2023 features lovely sweet cherry and raspberry fruit notes accented with hints of liquorice and clove. The fruit persists on the palate with luminous brightness, yet this is a serious wine, with the body and structure to age. It is produced from a combination of young and old vines throughout the cru, but the average age is 70 years. Although the domaine’s Cuvée Camille and Cuvée Marcel Lapierre feature even older vines, this ‘regular' Morgon at Lapierre will also improve for years to come.” - 92 Points, Decanter

“The 2023 Morgon opens on the nose with a signature Lapierre vibrancy, revealing fragrant lavender, crushed petals and vanilla. Layers of ripe raspberries, licorice and blueberries emerge, accompanied by a subtle wave of volatile acidity that many will perceive as invigorating. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, this vintage showcases notably lush fruit and a pleasing density, deftly supported by ripe, integrated tannins and bright acidity. Indeed, so vibrant and expressive is its character that, tasted blind, it might easily be mistaken for the cuvée without added sulfur.” - 90 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

Producer: Marcel Lapierre

Country: France

Region: Burgundy

Varietal: Gamay

Appellation: Morgon

Vintage: 2023

Size: 750ml