The Perrachon family’s roots in Juliénas date back to 1601, but the estate started in 1877 and has grown quickly. Laurent and his wife, Martine, represent six Beaujolais Crus—in addition to Juliénas, there are Chénas, St. Amour, Fleurie, Morgon, and Moulin à Vent. This is a property in transition, as they are embracing sustainable agricultural practices, eliminating the use of all chemical products in the vineyards, and keeping grass between the rows.
The estate is 23 hectares of vines that average more than 45 years old, leading to lower yields and concentrated wines. The delimited climats have yields more in line with Grand Cru red Burgundy. Many of the wines are made in a more traditional Burgundian style, with destemming, longer maceration, and frequent use of old oak demi-muids and foudres. The resulting wines are intense and concentrated, contrasting with the trending infusion style.
