Jean Foillard
Jean and Agnès Foillard took over his father’s
domaine in 1980, and soon thereafter began to make Kermit Lynch customers very
happy. Most of their vineyards are planted on the Côte du Py, the
famed slope outside the town of Villié-Morgon and the pride of Morgon. These
granite and schist soils sit on an alluvial fan at the highest point above the
town and impart great complexity. However, great real estate is not the only
key to Foillard’s success. Early on, Jean began to follow the teachings of
Jules Chauvet, a traditionalist who defied everything that the more commercial
brands were touting in the region. Jean and three other local vignerons, Marcel Lapierre, Jean-Paul
Thévenet, and Guy Breton, soon joined in on the movement. This Gang of Four, as
Kermit christened them, called for a return to the old practices of viticulture
and vinification: starting with old vines, never using synthetic herbicides or
pesticides, harvesting late, rigorously sorting to remove all but the
healthiest grapes, adding minimal doses of sulfur dioxide or none at all, and
refusing both chaptalization and filtration. The end result allows Morgon to
express itself naturally, as it should be without the bubblegum and banana
aromas of so many other Beaujolais available today. Its rustic structure, spicy
notes, and mineral-laden backbone are what real Morgon is all about.
This estate comprises nearly fourteen hectares. Foillard’s Morgons are deep, structured, and complex, with a
velvety lushness that makes them irresistible when young despite their aging
potential. Jean raises his wines in older barrels sourced from top estates in
Burgundy, a logical decision for someone crafting Gamay in a Burgundian style. It is the
passion and dedication of vignerons
like this that have brought pride back to the crus of the Beaujolais.

Jean and Agnès Foillard took over his father’s domaine in 1980, and soon thereafter began to make Kermit Lynch customers very happy. Most of their vineyards are planted on the Côte du Py, the famed slope outside the town of Villié-Morgon and the pride of Morgon. These granite and schist soils sit on an alluvial fan at the highest point above the town and impart great complexity. However, great real estate is not the only key to Foillard’s success. Early on, Jean began to follow the teachings of Jules Chauvet, a traditionalist who defied everything that the more commercial brands were touting in the region. Jean and three other local vignerons, Marcel Lapierre, Jean-Paul Thévenet, and Guy Breton, soon joined in on the movement. This Gang of Four, as Kermit christened them, called for a return to the old practices of viticulture and vinification: starting with old vines, never using synthetic herbicides or pesticides, harvesting late, rigorously sorting to remove all but the healthiest grapes, adding minimal doses of sulfur dioxide or none at all, and refusing both chaptalization and filtration. The end result allows Morgon to express itself naturally, as it should be without the bubblegum and banana aromas of so many other Beaujolais available today. Its rustic structure, spicy notes, and mineral-laden backbone are what real Morgon is all about.
This estate comprises nearly fourteen hectares. Foillard’s Morgons are deep, structured, and complex, with a velvety lushness that makes them irresistible when young despite their aging potential. Jean raises his wines in older barrels sourced from top estates in Burgundy, a logical decision for someone crafting Gamay in a Burgundian style. It is the passion and dedication of vignerons like this that have brought pride back to the crus of the Beaujolais.
Technical Information
Wine | Blend | Vine Age | Soil Type | Vineyard Area* |
---|---|---|---|---|
Beaujolais-Villages |
Gamay | 20 to 55 years old | Granite | 7 ha |
Morgon Côte du Py |
Gamay | 10 - 90 yrs | Schist, Granite, Manganese | 8.6 ha total |
Morgon "Cuvée Corcelette" |
Gamay | 80 yrs | Sandstone | 8.6 ha total |
Morgon "3.14" |
Gamay | 100 yrs | Schist, Granite | 8.6 ha total |
Fleurie |
Gamay | 20-70 yrs | Pink sandstone | 1 ha |
Morgon Les Charmes Eponym’ |
Gamay | 45 - 50 years | Schist, Granite, Manganese | 1.5 ha |
* "ha" = hectares; one hectare equals roughly two and a half acres |
VITICULTURE / VINIFICATION
• Vineyards are farmed organically
• Highly selective hand harvesting
• Barrels are minimum 2 years old
• Unfiltered and with no added SO2 during vinification
Beaujolais-Villages:• Traditional, whole cluster fermentation lasts from 15 days in concrete tank
• Aged 7 months in concrete tank
• Parcels located in Villié-Morgon, Lancié, Saint-Amour, and St-Etienne-La-Varenne
Morgon Côte du Py:
• Traditional, whole cluster fermentation lasts from 3-4 weeks
• Aged for 6-9 months in used oak barrelsMorgon “Cuvée Corcelette”:
• Traditional, whole cluster fermentation lasts from 3-4 weeks
• Aged for 6-9 months in used oak barrels and one 30-hectoliter foudre
Morgon “3.14”:
• Traditional, whole cluster fermentation lasts from 3-4 weeks.
• Aged for 6-9 months in used oak barrels.
Fleurie:
• Traditional, whole cluster fermentation lasts from 3-4 weeks
• Aged for 6-9 months in used oak barrels
• Sourced from the lieu-dit Champagne
Morgon Les Charmes Eponym’:• Traditional, whole cluster fermentation lasts from 3-4 weeks
• Aged for 6-9 months in used oak barrels
• Sourced exclusively from the Les Charmes vineyard, the highest altitude lieu-dit in the appellation
MISCELLANEA
Of all the disciples of Jules Chauvet, Jean Foillard is the most
likely to succeed in the practice of using very little SO2, without having his wines
act capriciously at the slightest change in atmospheric pressure. His wines
possess magnificent body and give aromas of a unique purity and grace.
La Revue de France
There is something no-nonsense and straightforward about
Foillard’s wine. It seems to say, let’s cut straight to deliciousness.
Deliciousness with class. It has a wonderful texture going down. The finesse
from start to finish seems almost offhanded.
Kermit Lynch
Of all the disciples of Jules Chauvet, Jean Foillard is the most likely to succeed in the practice of using very little SO2, without having his wines act capriciously at the slightest change in atmospheric pressure. His wines possess magnificent body and give aromas of a unique purity and grace.
There is something no-nonsense and straightforward about Foillard’s wine. It seems to say, let’s cut straight to deliciousness. Deliciousness with class. It has a wonderful texture going down. The finesse from start to finish seems almost offhanded.
General Information
- Country
- France
- Region
- Beaujolais
- Appellation(s)
- Morgon, Fleurie
- Producer
- Jean Foillard
- Founded
- 1981
- Annual Production
- 2,500 cases
- Farming
- Organic (certified)