On Sale Now!
With parcel-specific soil maps recently released and winemakers looking to highlight the characteristics of the terroir of their own vineyards, older techniques more similar to Burgundian winemaking have taken root in Beaujolais. The resulting wines are still juicy and lovely, but with added depth and mineral crunchiness not often found in Gamay wines. This is how the vanguard of winemakers is shaping one of the most exciting areas in France, if not the world.
Anne-Sophie Dubois, a Champenois native with her training in Volnay, is making some of the most perfumed and elegant wines off of her 20-acre hilltop vineyard in Fleurie. She is, in some circles, already a name-brand, rock star producer. Generally speaking, though, she’s not well known enough. The wines she makes are clearly from Beaujolais, but seem to have the soul of Burgundy. Her winemaking style is definitely influenced by natural wine (there are no tricks in the cellar and no new oak) but she uses sulfur and the wines are clean and elegant.
While she makes a ‘young vine’ semi-carbonic wine (Les Cocottes – delicious in its own right), her two wines of note are the Alchemiste and Les Labourons. The wines come from 40 and 60+ year old parcels, respectively. Alchemiste is fully destemmed fruit, macerated for approximately 3 weeks with native yeasts, then aged for 13 months in both cement tanks and some larger oak casks.
Les Labourons, formerly known as Clepsydre, marks the transition to fully organic (mostly biodynamic) practices in her vineyard. This wine is comprised of the best fruit from the oldest parcel of vines on the estate. The vinification is the same, though the wine is aged completely in neutral barrels rather than partially in tank. Anne-Sophie says that this wine shows more concentration and depth due to the age of the vines and the truly beautiful fruit that is available. While both will age nicely, the Labourons should be the wine you lay down for 10+ years.
As unabashed Anne-Sophie fans, every new release is celebrated (and purchased) by our staff. Her wines, even in difficult years, yield perfumed, vibrant wines with substance and backbone. 2022 was by all accounts a phenominal year in the region. To quote Neal Martin from Vinous when writing on the most recent vintages including the “very promising” 2022, “The future is Beaujolais.” Positive sentiments were echoed by a number of publications, including the Burgundy Report, Wine Spectator, and Wine-Searcher. It was a hot year with severely reduced yields, resulting in concentrated, rich wines with early-drinking appeal and a promising future in the cellar, especially from estates such as Dubois. So snag multiple bottles of this staff-favorite estate while they’re on sale (and still in stock) for rewarding drinking over the next ten years.
“These are wines of depth that are built for aging, although they aren’t forbidding in their early days.” — Josh Raynolds, Vinous, writing in 2021
“What can be more pleasurable than a fresh, crisp Fleurie, maybe slightly cooled and allowed to warm in your glass. Not much, especially when it comes from talented Anne-Sophie Dubois. She just has the right approach to winemaking – adhering to traditional methods of vinification and allowing her Fleurie to ‘sing.’” — Neal Martin, Wine Advocate
Anne-Sophie Dubois, a Champenois native with her training in Volnay, is making some of the most perfumed and elegant wines off of her 20-acre hilltop vineyard in Fleurie. She is, in some circles, already a name-brand, rock star producer. Generally speaking, though, she’s not well known enough. The wines she makes are clearly from Beaujolais, but seem to have the soul of Burgundy. Her winemaking style is definitely influenced by natural wine (there are no tricks in the cellar and no new oak) but she uses sulfur and the wines are clean and elegant.
While she makes a ‘young vine’ semi-carbonic wine (Les Cocottes – delicious in its own right), her two wines of note are the Alchemiste and Les Labourons. The wines come from 40 and 60+ year old parcels, respectively. Alchemiste is fully destemmed fruit, macerated for approximately 3 weeks with native yeasts, then aged for 13 months in both cement tanks and some larger oak casks.
Les Labourons, formerly known as Clepsydre, marks the transition to fully organic (mostly biodynamic) practices in her vineyard. This wine is comprised of the best fruit from the oldest parcel of vines on the estate. The vinification is the same, though the wine is aged completely in neutral barrels rather than partially in tank. Anne-Sophie says that this wine shows more concentration and depth due to the age of the vines and the truly beautiful fruit that is available. While both will age nicely, the Labourons should be the wine you lay down for 10+ years.
As unabashed Anne-Sophie fans, every new release is celebrated (and purchased) by our staff. Her wines, even in difficult years, yield perfumed, vibrant wines with substance and backbone. 2022 was by all accounts a phenominal year in the region. To quote Neal Martin from Vinous when writing on the most recent vintages including the “very promising” 2022, “The future is Beaujolais.” Positive sentiments were echoed by a number of publications, including the Burgundy Report, Wine Spectator, and Wine-Searcher. It was a hot year with severely reduced yields, resulting in concentrated, rich wines with early-drinking appeal and a promising future in the cellar, especially from estates such as Dubois. So snag multiple bottles of this staff-favorite estate while they’re on sale (and still in stock) for rewarding drinking over the next ten years.
“These are wines of depth that are built for aging, although they aren’t forbidding in their early days.” — Josh Raynolds, Vinous, writing in 2021
“What can be more pleasurable than a fresh, crisp Fleurie, maybe slightly cooled and allowed to warm in your glass. Not much, especially when it comes from talented Anne-Sophie Dubois. She just has the right approach to winemaking – adhering to traditional methods of vinification and allowing her Fleurie to ‘sing.’” — Neal Martin, Wine Advocate
5% off any 6-11 in-stock bottles of Anne-Sophie Dubois wine
10% off any 12 or more in-stock bottles of Anne-Sophie Dubois wine
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Sale ends Thursday, March 14th at 9 am Pacific
In Stock and On Sale Now from Anne-Sophie Dubois:
Anne-Sophie Dubois Fleurie Les Cocottes 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $28, that’s $26.60 at 5% off and $25.20 at 10% off, 36 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 91 points “Very fresh Fleurie brimming with pomegranates, rosehips, oranges and wild strawberries. It’s medium-bodied and bright, with refreshing acidity and crunchy tannins. Drink now or hold.”
Importer note “Starting with the 2015 vintage, Anne-Sophie has decided to release a different side of her Fleurie. Up until then, all of her Fleuries were 100% destemmed and fermented in a Burgundian-style. In stark contrast to her usual style, she is making Les Cocottes with 100% whole cluster and using carbonic maceration. It is released the spring after the vintage and is intended to be fruit driven and drunk early & often. The label was drawn by Anne-Sophie herself. (She’s really into art.)”
Anne-Sophie Dubois Fleurie Les Cocottes 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $28, that’s $26.60 at 5% off and $25.20 at 10% off, 36 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 91 points “Very fresh Fleurie brimming with pomegranates, rosehips, oranges and wild strawberries. It’s medium-bodied and bright, with refreshing acidity and crunchy tannins. Drink now or hold.”
Importer note “Starting with the 2015 vintage, Anne-Sophie has decided to release a different side of her Fleurie. Up until then, all of her Fleuries were 100% destemmed and fermented in a Burgundian-style. In stark contrast to her usual style, she is making Les Cocottes with 100% whole cluster and using carbonic maceration. It is released the spring after the vintage and is intended to be fruit driven and drunk early & often. The label was drawn by Anne-Sophie herself. (She’s really into art.)”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Anne-Sophie Dubois Fleurie l’Alchimiste 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $31.90, that’s $30.31 at 5% off and $28.71 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 92 points “I like the violet and cassis notes here mingling with mulberries and purple plums. It’s medium-bodied, fresh and lively, with purple fruit wrapped up in silky tannins. Lots of energy. Drink or hold.”
Winemaker Notes “From southwest facing vineyards in Fleurie AOC. Soils are highly granitic. Dark berried fruits, tempered by mineral and black tea nuances. Seamless and very elegant.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Anne-Sophie Dubois Fleurie Les Labourons 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $37.50, that’s $35.63 at 5% off and $33.75 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 92 points “This has an inviting nose of raspberries, strawberries, rhubarb and nutmeg. Touch of tobacco. It’s medium-bodied, very fresh and poised. Very fine, precise tannins. Drink or hold.”
Importer Notes “Whereas previously the wine was a selection of the oldest fruit, Anne-Sophie has decided to take the selection one step farther and make it a selection of the best fruit from the old vine parcel. Les Labourons is the name of the lieu dit in Fleurie. In 2017, after receiving her organic certification, she wanted to rename the wine and have a new label drawn to showcase the new chapter in her winemaking. Despite the label and name change, Anne Sophie’s approach to vinification is the same as vintages past. It is 100% destemmed and aged for around 13 months in 228L neutral oak barrels.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Anne-Sophie Dubois ‘Sans Detour’, Vin de France 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $28, that’s $26.60 at 5% off and $25.20 at 10% off, 17 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: This is one for the wine geeks. Produced from 20% Gamay and 80% Gamaret (pronounced like “Gamma Ray”—we did mention we’re geeks, right?) a clone of Gamay first created in Switzerland. Expect blackberry and strawberry notes, plus mild tannins and a soft undercurrent of earthy minerality. Highly recommended.
Don’t miss our additional sale going on now:
Tempier and Bandol
5% off any 4-8 in-stock bottles of Bandol wine
10% off any 9 or more in-stock bottles of Bandol wine
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Tempier and Bandol sale ends Tuesday, March 12th at 9 am Pacific.