Domaine de Boischampt, 'Juliénas', 2024, Juliénas (AOC)

'One-Liner'
Vibrant cru Beaujolais with real character – juicy red fruit, dried flowers and liquorice with fine tannins and a smoky, mineral edge.

Tasting Note
Bright ruby in the glass, with an expressive nose of red cherry and raspberry lifted by dried flowers, subtle smoke and liquorice. The palate is fresh and supple, with juicy red fruit carried by fine-grained tannins and lively acidity. Whole-bunch fermentation brings a gentle savoury and floral complexity, while the blue-stone soils lend a firmer mineral structure beneath the fruit. Hints of blood orange and grapefruit add a mouth-watering bitter-citrus edge towards the finish. Energetic, characterful and beautifully balanced, with red fruit, spice and mineral freshness lingering behind.

Country: France
Region: Beaujolais
Sub-Region: Juliénas AOC
Grape(s): 100% Gamay
ABV: 12%
Friendly: Organic

Awards & Critics' Scores
Stuart Pigott – 91/100

The Story
Domaine de Boischampt has roots stretching back to 1642, but its modern chapter began when the estate was taken over by a new team in 2018 and converted towards certified organic farming. Their 2024 Juliénas comes from around three hectares of vines averaging fifty years old, planted on the steep blue-stone soils that give this northern Beaujolais cru its naturally firmer structure. The grapes are harvested by hand and vinified without sulphur, predominantly as whole bunches, before spending 11 months in concrete rather than oak. Bottled without filtration, the result is a particularly pure expression of Juliénas – red-fruited and floral, but with enough tannin, savoury depth and mineral grip to give it considerably more substance than simple Beaujolais.

Perfect With... (click me for the recipe)
- Meat/fish: Toulouse-style sausages with lentils, herbs and red wine
- Vegetarian: Roast beetroot, goat’s cheese and caramelised shallot Wellington
- Vegan: Roast squash, sage and hazelnut galette with spiced apple chutney