2022 Olivier & Alexis Depardon - Morgon Cote du Py (750ml)

Domaine de la Bêche was founded in 1848 in the hills of Beaujolais and is now led by Olivier Depardon, the seventh generation of his family to run the estate since taking charge in 1985. He expanded the property considerably, from an initial four acres to nearly seventy, concentrated mainly in the Morgon appellation with additional plantings in Regnié and Beaujolais-Villages. His son Alexis joined the winery in 2013, followed by daughter Caroline in 2018, and the family is unique in owning vines across all six of Morgon's distinct climats, a range that also supports their broader Morgon Vieille Vignes bottling.

Côte du Py comes from the most storied of those climats, a steep slope built on iron-rich volcanic soil locally called roche pourrie, long considered the source of Morgon's most powerful and age-worthy wines. The domaine shifted to destemming all its fruit in 2003 and continues to ferment spontaneously in large traditional foudres of five to six thousand liters, a method chosen to preserve the site's natural intensity without imposing heavy extraction or new oak character.

The wine shows a deep garnet color with violet reflections, opening into black cherry, blackberry, and stone fruit pit aromas typical of the volcanic terroir. The palate is powerful yet silky, round and structured, closing on a long, energetic finish with fine, elegant tannins. It pairs well with roasted meats, slow-braised stews, or aged cheeses.