Quentin Harel, "Charron" 2018

100% Gamay from 50 year-old vines organically cultivated in Saint-Étienne-des-Oullières, just south of Côte de Brouilly in the Beaujolais. Whole-cluster fermentation over 7 days before a 1 year élevage in a combination of cement & enamel tank. Unfined, unfiltered, 2g/HL SO2 at bottling. 

From Tom at Kermit Lynch:
"The tremendously skilled Quentin Harel is already making a strong case for his spot on the roster by crafting well-priced reds that are the complete package: fresh, charming, and complex at the same time. His entry-level Beaujolais Charron is floral, but whole-cluster fermentation has also given it irresistibly juicy notes of cherries, rhubarb, and pomegranate. Ripe without being rich, it has great structure—just the right amount of tannin—while being inviting now. Best of all, it doesn’t mimic other producers’ wines we import from this region; it’s entirely distinct. Harel’s Charron, made from fifty-year-old, organically farmed vines, is certainly food-friendly, and it’s begging you to light up the grill."