2022 Domaine Lucien Lardy Beaujolais Villages

Lucien Lardy is a third generation winemaker and grower who cultivates some of the best plots in Fleurie. The home vineyard is a lieu dit named “Roches” because the bedrock comes right up to the surface, giving the vines a very poor soil in which they have to struggle to grow. The vines average 40 years of age and are planted at a density of 10,000 plants per hectare. Lardy uses an unusual type of head pruning known as rognant au carré to allow increased exposure to the sun and air circulation. Typical methods in the cellar are used: cement tank fermentations along with stainless steel and minimal sulfur added before bottling. This unassuming village wine comes from a single vineyard near Fleurie that has the same pink granite soil composition and is planted to 70-year-old gamay vines. You may find more flashy or complex Beaujolais, but good luck finding a better classic, bistro-style Beaujolais. It has us wanting onion soup!