2022 Anne Sophie Dubois, ‘l’Alchimiste’ Fleurie, Beaujolais, France

Producer: Coming from Champagne, Anne Sophie Dubois learned winemaking in Champagne & Burgundy (Volnay). Her parents were growers, not winemakers, they owned a 8 hectare plot in the heart of Fleurie, which Anne Sophie took over in 2007 when she was 25. Her winemaking style is a burgundian approach to vinification – she started using whole bunch fermentation in 2015 & long maceration times, avoiding additions, making unique & expressive wines.

Cuvee Name: L’Alchimiste, named after the Paulo Coelho novel.

Place: All her wines are in a single block on a southwest facing slope near the winery in Fleurie.

Cru Fleurie, known as ‘The Queen of Beaujolais’ Typically feminine in character, takes its name from ‘Montagne de Fleurie’ named after  the Roman general Floricum.

Soil: primarily pink granite

Varietal: Gamay

Farming: Certified organic, biodynamic practices, although does not believe in using copper.

Vinification: the grapes are hand harvested, the bunches are put into tiny cases so that the skins of the berries stay intact, producing juice without oxidation. They go into concrete, fermented with wild yeast – aged in old barrels of various sizes, bottled unfined & unfiltered.