Jean Foillard
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From 14 hectares in Beaujolais, Jean Foillard was a trailblazer as part of the "Gang of Four." For us, Foillard's wines, however are singular - undoubtedly pure, they possess unparalleled depth, intensity and structure that seem to bely what we once knew Gamay could be. Most of the vineyard land is in the Cote du Py, the finest spot within Morgon; Foillard's Fleuries are equally, if not more deep and compelling. It's difficult to decide which Foillard to choose from, as they all possess such quality. One thing is for sure though: you will never find more age-worthy Gamay on this planet than the wines from this house.
When one thinks of Beaujolais, and I mean the "real" Beaujolais, not the pink bubblegum watermelon candy B.S. people consume around the third week of November, the name Foillard is not too far away from their thoughts. The Domaine, established by Jean and Agnes Foillard in the early 80s, became one of the most important producers in the regions for quality wines that defined expectations, especially at the peak of Beaujolais Nouveau's success.
Along with Marcel Lapierre, Jean-Paul Thévenet, and Guy Breton, Foillard led the revolution not just for quality but also for conscious viticulture and winemaking. The above Vignerons, inspired by the teachings of Jules Chauvet (one of the first proponents of low-intervention winemaking) became the "Big Four" of Beaujolais. They set an example for all the progressive regions in the region.
If Foillard were located in the Cote d'Or and producing Pinot from Premiers/Grands Crus, his wines would have long been out of reach for most consumers. Yet, luckily, the wines of Beaujo, even the classics, are still "on the down-low" and thus outstanding value.
