Alex Foillard

History of Domaine Alex Foillard

Alex Foillard was born and grew up in Villié-Morgon, at the heart of Beaujolais, the son of Jean and Agnès Foillard. His father Jean is one of the guiding figures of natural Beaujolais wine, who took over the family domaine in 1981 and has since produced internationally acclaimed natural Morgons, of which the Côte du Py cuvée has become an icon. Alex's childhood was spent between the vines and the cellar, alongside his father and his maternal grandfather, both vignerons. He grew up surrounded by the galaxy of natural winemakers of Beaujolais: Lapierre, Métras, Dutraive, who formed the pioneering community of which the Foillard family was fully a part.

Determined to become a vigneron, Alex chose not to take over the family domaine directly, but to forge his own identity. He studied at the agricultural school in Montpellier, then completed his vocational diploma in viticulture and oenology in Beaune on a work-study basis at Domaine Prieuré-Roch in Nuits-Saint-Georges, one of the Burgundian references for natural viticulture. After his studies, he spent more than a year in Australia, then in Japan, broadening his vision of wine and viticulture. On his return in 2015, he worked at the family domaine while searching for his own plots. In 2016, at the age of 24, he purchased one hectare in Brouilly and one hectare in Côte de Brouilly, and signed his first vintage. These vines, already farmed in organic agriculture for more than ten years, were a rare opportunity in a vineyard where land is increasingly difficult to acquire. A third Beaujolais-Villages cuvée has since been produced with grapes purchased in Saint-Jean-d'Ardières.

Terroirs and Vines of Domaine Alex Foillard

Alex Foillard's vineyard covers 2.5 hectares, spread across two cru appellations of Beaujolais. In Brouilly, one hectare is planted on the commune of Odenas, on the lower slopes of Mont Brouilly, on varied soils of sand, schist and granite, typical of the Brouilly terroir. In Côte de Brouilly, one hectare is planted on the commune of Quincié-en-Beaujolais, on the steeper slopes of Mont Brouilly, on soils of gneiss, blue stones, schistose sandstone and granite, a basaltic and volcanic terroir conferring a distinctive minerality to the wines. The vines, aged between 30 and 60 years, had already been converted to organic farming by the previous owner for more than ten years before Alex's acquisition.

For the Beaujolais-Villages, the grapes are purchased from a partner vigneron in Saint-Jean-d'Ardières, midway between Morgon and Brouilly, on a sandy-silty terroir. This vigneron shares Alex's philosophical values: respectful viticulture, without synthetic products. The entire vineyard is farmed in organic agriculture, with no herbicides or synthetic products whatsoever, using only sulphur and copper in very small quantities. The harvest is manual.

Vinifications of Domaine Alex Foillard

Alex Foillard vinifies in the direct tradition of the Foillard school and of Jules Chauvet: cold carbonic maceration, whole bunches, indigenous yeasts. The harvested grapes spend a night in a cold room (8–12°C) before being placed whole in concrete vats for a carbonic maceration of 10 to 20 days depending on the cuvée and the vintage. Fermentation takes place with indigenous yeasts. No sulphur additions during vinification and ageing. A tiny quantity of sulphur may be added at bottling for sanitary safety. No filtration or fining. Ageing takes place in concrete tanks for the Beaujolais-Villages and the Côte de Brouilly, and may include partial ageing in barrels for the Brouilly depending on the vintage. "A great deal of work in the vines, very little intervention in the cellar, to reveal the terroir rather than to mask it."

The cuvées of Domaine Alex Foillard

Brouilly : A red cuvée from the one hectare of Brouilly on the commune of Odenas, on the lower slopes of Mont Brouilly, on soils of sand, schist and granite. Vines of 30 to 60 years old. Cold carbonic maceration, indigenous yeasts, ageing in concrete tanks. A fruity and light red wine, with the aromas of black cherry, violet and granitic minerality characteristic of Brouilly. Supple and silky texture, fresh and thirst-quenching palate. "Juicy, limpid and thirst-quenching character, an extra measure of life and purity." The most direct and most immediately accessible cuvée of the domaine. To be drunk within 3 to 5 years.

Côte de Brouilly : A red cuvée from the one hectare of Côte de Brouilly on the commune of Quincié-en-Beaujolais, on the steep slopes of Mont Brouilly, on soils of gneiss, blue stones, schistose sandstone and granite. Cold carbonic maceration for 10–20 days, indigenous yeasts, ageing in concrete tanks. "The Côte de Brouilly appellation is reserved for vines on the slopes of Mont Brouilly. The wine expresses itself on floral and spiced notes. The palate is chiselled, fresh and dynamic. The substance is deep yet elegant." A more structured and mineral wine than the Brouilly, with a distinctive basaltic terroir depth. Ageing potential of 5 to 8 years.

Beaujolais-Villages : A red cuvée from grapes purchased in Saint-Jean-d'Ardières, a sandy-silty terroir midway between Morgon and Brouilly. Cold carbonic maceration with whole bunches, indigenous yeasts, ageing in concrete tanks. "An irresistible Gamay juice, velvety, with red fruits (raspberry) and a peppery touch. An easy-drinking wine, best served slightly chilled, with a simple meal." The juicy and accessible introductory cuvée, reflecting Alex Foillard's natural and fruity style. To be drunk within 2 to 3 years.