Beaujolais 'Saint-Germain' Jean Max 2023

The ‘Saint-Germain’ Beaujolais Jean Max is a French artisanal label with a fascinating fruity and floral aromatic profile that originates from the southern part of the Beaujolais area, near the border with the Rhône. The origin of this bottle, produced for the first time with the 2021 vintage, is the collaboration between Jean Max, the alias of Maxime Barrot, and the producer Philippe Thomas with his wife Aurélie. The couple works in organic and biodynamic farming within the municipality of Saint-Germain-Nuelles, located about thirty kilometers northwest of the city of Lyon.

Jean Max Beaujolais ‘Saint-Germain’ comes from only Gamay grapes grown under organic and biodynamic regimes on soils characterized by an abundant presence of schist and white limestone. The vines are between 70 and 90 years old and are located within the municipality of Saint-Germain-Nuelles, from which the label takes its name. After the manual harvest of the grapes, whole cluster fermentation follows with spontaneous alcoholic fermentation and carbonic maceration. Once the fermentation process is complete, the mass is aged for a few months in wooden barrels until the final bottling, carried out with a minimal amount of added sulfites.

In the glass, the Beaujolais ‘Saint-Germain’ from vigneron Jean Max displays a ruby red robe with garnet reflections. The aromatic bouquet expresses sensations of plum, berries, and cherry, combined with hints of violet and spicy notes. The tasting shows refined and elegant, in excellent balance between the intensity of the fruit and the juicy freshness, with a soft tannic texture complementing it. A delightful Gamay in youth but capable of sustaining a few years of aging in the cellar if properly stored.