Macon-Verze Rouge, 2022

Gamay from Burgundy's south rather than Beaujolais: perfumed, juicy and full of energy, from vines planted in the 1970s.

Nicolas Delfaud was a Paris hotel sommelier before retraining in his thirties and starting his own small domaine around Verzé, north-west of Mâcon, in 2015. This red is Gamay from vines planted in the mid-1970s on clay-limestone and marl. Half the bunches go into the concrete tanks whole, stems and all, which tends to lift the perfume and freshness. 2022 gave tiny berries and very low yields. Perfumed and wide on the nose, juicy and energetic in the mouth, with a finish that lingers.