Little would we know that when Marcel Lapierre took over the family domaine from his father in 1973, he was on the road to becoming a legend. In 1981, his path would be forever changed by Jules Chauvet, a man whom many now call his spiritual godfather. Chauvet was a winemaker, a researcher, a chemist, and a viticultural prophet. It was he who, upon the advent of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in the 1950s, first spoke out for "natural wine," harkening back to the traditional methods of the Beaujolais. Joined by local vignerons Guy Breton, Jean-Paul Thévenet, and Jean Foillard, Marcel spearheaded a group that soon took up the torch of this movement. Kermit dubbed this clan the Gang of Four, and the name has stuck ever since. These rebels called for a return to the old practices of viticulture and vinification: starting with old vines, never using synthetic herbicides or pesticides, harvesting late, rigorously sorting to remove all but the healthiest grapes, adding minimal doses of sulfur dioxide or none at all, and disdaining chaptalization. Sadly, the end of the 2010 vintage was Marcel's last. He passed away at the end of the harvest--a poetic farewell for a man that forever changed our perception of Beaujolais. His son Mathieu and daughter Camille confidently continue the great work that their father pioneered, now introducing biodynamic vineyard practices and ensuring that Marcel's legacy lives on.
Kermit Lynch: "Little would we know that when Marcel Lapierre took over the family domaine from his father in 1973, he was on the road
A richer, powerful wine, the 2018 Morgon Cuvee MMXVI offers a beautiful, lifted perfume of candied violets, black cherries, blueberries, and blood orange that takes
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France » Beaujolais
This cuvee takes the Vin de France appellation, because the Beaujolais’ governing body decided to do away with the Vin de Pays designation in Beaujolais,
Kermit Lynch: "Little would we know that when Marcel Lapierre took over the family domaine from his father in 1973, he was on the road
Very limited wine from this iconic Morgon producer. Marcel's children have taken the reigns since his tragic passing and they are doing a fantastic job
Made by the son of celebrity Beaujolais winemaker, Marcel Lapierre, who had murals painted for him around Paris upon his passing. The wine, primarily Gamay
James Suckling 94 Some very stony and flinty aromas with graphite. Red and dark plums, too. Smells fresh and very complex already. The palate has great
Kermit Lynch: "Little would we know that when Marcel Lapierre took over the family domaine from his father in 1973, he was on the road
Nobody’s wines taste like Marcel Lapierre’s. He is the source of a whole new school of winemaking, turning the hands of time back to wine
" The Lapierre estate has come out with this new Beaujolais from fruit purchased in the village of Juliénas. While we're long fans of their
Wine Advocate 90 "The 2014 Morgon (sulfited) was bottled on 13 March, around a month prior to my visit. It has a pleasant red cherry and
John Gilman 93 "Marcel Lapierre passed away after the 2010 vintage, leaving behind an impressive legacy of great wines that transformed a region. His son, Mathieu
"The methods at Lapierre are just as revolutionary as they are traditional; the detail and precision with which they work is striking and entirely different
" The methods at Lapierre are just as revolutionary as they are traditional; the detail and precision with which they work is striking and entirely
Wine Advocate 92 "The irreplaceable and virtually irrepressible Marcel Lapierre succumbed to unrelenting melanoma just after the 2010 harvest was completed and will be sorely missed
"The methods at Lapierre are just as revolutionary as they are traditional; the detail and precision with which they work is striking and entirely different
"The methods at Lapierre are just as revolutionary as they are traditional; the detail and precision with which they work is striking and entirely different
International Wine Cellar 87 "Bright purple. Smoke-accented cherry and dark berry aromas show a distinctly wild character. Chewy in texture, with a sneaky sweetness
Wine Advocate 92 "The irreplaceable and virtually irrepressible Marcel Lapierre succumbed to unrelenting melanoma just after the 2010 harvest was completed and will be sorely missed
Wine Advocate 92 "Scents of ripe red berries mingle flatteringly with perfume of peony and buddleia as well as a smoky aura of black tea. Slightly
"This cuvee takes the Vin de France appellation, because the Beaujolais governing body decided to do away with the Vin de Pays designation in Beaujolais,
"After Marcel Lapierre's (probably the pioneer of natural viticulture in Beaujolais) untimely death in 2010, his son Mathieu continues the historic estate in his fathers
"The methods at Lapierre are just as revolutionary as they are traditional; the detail and precision with which they work is striking and entirely different
"The standard line on Beaujolais is to seek out wine from the region's crus—13 grape-growing areas that have proven themselves worthy. But some of the
" When Marcel Lapierre passed away murals were painted in Paris for him. This ruby color lovely, natural Gamay from celebrity Beaujolais winemaker Marcel Lapierre