Famille Dutraive

Fleurie, Beaujolais

If you don’t know about the Dutraive family yet, taking a look at the Domaine de la Grand’Cour producer profile will help set the context…

The 2016 growing season in Beaujolais saw May frost cause early losses in yield, but a month later a summer hailstorm devasted parts of Beaujolais and the Dutraive family’s Domaine de La Grand’Cour lost 90% of its crop. Unable to produce wine under this label from their own vines, Jean-Louis Dutraive sent a call out for fruit and managed to come up with some last-minute parcels through his contacts. And so the micro-negoce ‘Famille Dutraive’ was born, and now represents Jean-Louis, daughter Ophélie, and sons Justin and Lucas. The 2017 season was even more devastating for the Grand’Cour vineyards with the same percentage losses. The La Cave team visited just after the second hailstorm of the season and the vines were completely stripped and canes actually shredded in many places.

From 2017 onwards, the parcels they source are farmed with organic principles and the cellar work is identical to Grand’Cour, all taking place at the family winery. Natural carbonic fermentation followed by aging in tank and/or old wood of some sort and a hint of sulphur at bottling. The range is fresh and vibrant with a more relaxed, natural feel. More fruit-driven and immediate than the Grand’Cour wines and some of the most delicious Beaujolais bottlings you will come across.