Yann Bertrand - Saint Amour Les Bambins 2022 1.5L Magnum

100% Gamay

Biodynamic, Vegan

Fleurie, Beaujolais, Burgundy, France

From the importer-

The family's domaine lies in lieu-dit Grand Prés and is comprised of 80-110 year old vines planted on the Fleurie side of the family's 7.5 hectare vineyard. The vineyard faces east. Pink granite soil. Vineyards are farmed using biodynamic methods and goblet pruning. All vineyard work is done by hand. 10 day maceration at cold temperature (8 degree celcius). Carbonic maceration with native yeast and without SO2 for 17-20 days. Fermentation occurs in cement tanks. Wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered in the Spring in accordance to the lunar calendar. Aged for 7 months in used barrels (fût de chêne) and 500L demi-muids. Barrels are over 10 years old.

Growing up in Fleurie, Yann Bertrand never thought he would become a winemaker. He briefly enrolled in commerce at a local university, and then travelled around the French Alps for a few years. When applying for local jobs, he noted that he was the son of a vigneron, and soon found himself working at wine bars and wine shops, surrounded by passionate wine geeks and artisan winemakers who often came to deliver wine themselves. Tasting wines in a new way, he began to ask himself some questions, and eventually decided that the metier of a winemaker would be interesting to him if he pursued it with the same passion as the role models he encountered.

Returning to the Beaujolais, Yann began to learn from the incredible circle of producers that he never knew before - including well known people like Jean Foillard and Yvon Metras, and also the behind-the-scenes guru Jacques Néauport (who was the quiet right-hand to the legendary Jules Chauvet). The entire Domaine of Famille Bertrand encompasses one 7.5 hectare vineyard which is mostly in Fleurie with a bit over the line in Morgon, and has vineyards are between 30 and 110 years old. His parents had been slowly moving in the direction of organic viticulture since they took over the family domaine in 1992, and in 2013, the entire vineyard was certified organic. Additionally, Yann took on 1.5 hectares to farm on his own using biodynamic principles and created two new cuvées d’exception made in the neo-Beaujolais style of his well-known neighbors.