2018 Paul-Henri Thillardon Beaujolais 'Raisin Libre'

Region: Beaujolais < Burgundy <France Grapes: Gamay Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Organic farming with biodynamic practices; sandy granite soils; whole cluster, long, cool semi-carbonic macerations; bottled both unfined and unfiltered with no added sulfites; 12.5% ABV Winemaker: Paul-Henri Thillardon This is pure Gamay glou glou from one of Beaujolais’ rising talents, Paul-Henri Thillardon, whose family farm is home to horses that work in the vineyards, as well as geese, turkeys, pigs, and dogs.  As if this wasn’t pastoral enough, he even lives in a converted pigsty on the property. But he’s no country bumpkin – Paul-Henri has positioned himself as the champion of Beaujolais' smallest, sleepiest cru, Chénas.  In 2008, he began making wine from 3ha of vineyards that he farmed organically from the start, working some of the vineyards with said horses and using biodynamic treatments. In 2009, he met Fleurie winemakers and lynchpins of the Fleurie natural winemaking scene, Jean-Louis Dutrai