Domaine Lucien Lardy Fleurie Vieilles Vignes 2023, Beaujolais

Domaine Lucien Lardy’s Fleurie Vieilles Vignes comes from old Gamay vines rooted in the pink granite soils of Fleurie, the cru often described as the most perfumed and elegant in Beaujolais. The Lardy family has farmed here since 1914, and their old-vine plots are vinified parcel by parcel, with gentle extraction to capture Fleurie’s floral character while keeping structure and depth.

In the glass it is a bright, deep ruby. The nose is fragrant and inviting, with violets, peony, raspberry and ripe cherry. The palate is juicy and silky, with supple, fine-grained tannins, fresh acidity and a long, elegant finish with a gentle mineral note from the granite.

Serve lightly cool, at around 14–16°C. It is superb with roast chicken, duck, pork, charcuterie, mushroom dishes and soft cheeses, and its freshness makes it a great match for salmon or tuna too. Enjoy it now for its vibrant fruit, or keep it for a few years, as old-vine Fleurie ages gracefully.

Domaine Lucien Lardy is a family estate based at Le Vivier, in the heart of Fleurie, founded in 1914 and now run by the third generation of the Lardy family. Lucien Lardy was one of the first growers in the area to leave the local cooperative so that the family’s terroirs could be bottled under their own names. The domaine holds old vines on pink granite in some of Fleurie’s most respected climats, including Les Moriers, where some vines date back to 1911, as well as plots in Moulin-à-Vent, Morgon and Beaujolais-Villages. Each parcel is vinified separately, and the house style favours perfume, freshness and clarity over extraction. Lucien is a founding member of Terroirs Originels, a group of Beaujolais growers committed to integrity, sustainable farming and the expression of place.