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KERMIT LYNCH WINE MERCHANT

Technical Information

Wine Blend Vine Age Soil Type Vineyard Area*
Beaujolais Villages “Marylou”
Gamay 45 years Granite, rocks 0.5 ha
Morgon
Gamay 80 years Granite 2.5 acres
Morgon “P’tit Max”
Gamay 90-120 years old Granite 1 ha
Régnié
Gamay 40-50 years Granite 1 ha
Côte de Brouilly
Gamay 60 years Granite .65 ha
Chiroubles
Gamay 60 years Granite 1.2 ha
* "ha" = hectares; one hectare equals roughly two and a half acres

VITICULTURE / VINIFICATION

• Only indigenous yeasts are used
• Purchased fruit comes from organically or sustainably farmed vineyards
• Grapes are cooled to 5-6° C after harvest to begin fermentation at low temperature
• 100% whole-cluster fermentation for all wines
• Short macerations in tank; length of maceration is determined by tasting and varies per wine and per vintage
• Grapes are pressed and racked to aging vessels (tank or wood) before the end of fermentation
• Wines that see wood are aged in used barrels from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti
• Tiny doses of sulfur added during élevage and at bottling
• Wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered
• Breton loves wines that are easy to drink, and his are typically the lightest in color, the lowest in alcohol, and the least tannic of the Gang of Four Morgons
• Breton’s wines open up beautifully with time; the Morgon has a track record of long aging

Beaujolais Villages “Marylou”:
• Guy’s Beaujolais Villages “Marylou” is sourced from the Saint Joseph and Grand Cras subzones of the appellation, about 500 meters from his Morgon vines.
• The wine is named after Marylou, Guy Breton’s daughter.

Morgon “Vieilles Vignes”:

• Guy’s principal wine, the Morgon “Vieilles Vignes” is sourced from the Saint Joseph and Grand Cras subzones of the appellation, which give fine, stony wines. A high-lying sandy parcel contributes more complexity, structure, and acidity to the blend.


Morgon “P'tit Max”:

• A selection of the domaine’s oldest vines in the climat Les Charmes
• Similar vinification to the Morgon “Vieilles Vignes” bottling, but longer aging (12 months élevage) in slightly newer barrels


Régnié:

• First produced in 2008, the Régnié is sourced from the hills between the Côte de Brouilly and the Côte du Py of Morgon, around the village of Régnié-Durette.

• Guy’s grandfather handed down the two parcels that go into this wine: one with 100-year-old and the other with 35-year-old vines. The shallow soil of sand and decomposing stones gives the vines easy access to the bedrock, creating firm wines with more grip and acidity than in Morgon.


Côte de Brouilly:
• Parcel located on the lower slope of the Côte de Brouilly, between Cercié and Odenas

Chiroubles:
• Sourced from the Javernand lieu-dit
• Named “Cuvée Léa” in 2019 for granddaughter's birth year.

Fleurie:
• Sourced from the lieu-dit Poncié
• Aged in used barrels

MISCELLANEA

Morgon “Vieilles Vignes”:

Good unfiltered color. And the aroma? How about some pepper and spice? Aromas of pepper and spice are unusual in the Beaujolais, but Breton says the locals always spot his wines in blind tasting because his terroir typically gives such a perfume. The palate starts out lean and fine, and then you start to feel it penetrate and the flavors sink in.
– Kermit Lynch

General Information

Country
France
Region
Beaujolais
Appellation(s)
Morgon, Régnié
Producer
Guy Breton
Founded
1988
Annual Production
3,000 cases
Farming
Organic (practicing)
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