Raisins gaulois
This was released today and has already disappeared from several Montreal outlets. No mises de côté allowed, so if you want some, drop by your favourite outlet on your way to work tomorrow morning. You have been warned.
Vin de France 2011, Raisins Gaulois, Domaine Marcel Lapierre ($17.65, 11459976)
In vintages before 2009, a Vin de pays de Gaules but now a generic Vin de France following a decision by Beaujolais authorities to eliminate the former designation. Nevertheless, most of the grapes used for this wine come from the Morgon AOC. 100% organically farmed young-vine Gamay. Semi-carbonic maceration (with no added sulphur) lasting around five days. Fermented with native yeasts. Aged two months in vats. Bottled unfiltered but with a squirt of sulphur dioxide. 12% ABV. The wine is also packaged in 5L and 10L bag-in-boxes, not that we ever see them here in Quebec. Conventional wisdom is to serve this lightly chilled but I found it more faceted and nuanced at room temperature (about 23ºC/74ºF this evening).
Exuberant, gumdroppy nose of red berries and peony with a ferrous note. Light, fleet and fresh in the mouth, the fruit sweet and juicy, the tannins soft and supple. High-toned rose flashes on the back of the palate before giving way to a tangy, mineral-edged finish. Pure and delightful, a celebration not so much of terroir as of Gamay. Way too easy to down, the very definition of a vin de soif.
Brett happens 
Thanks for this! I am a big RG fan. I got this link from rezin on Twitter. I picked up two bottles of the 2011 at the Westmount location. I was lucky enough to get one of the 20 cases of Raisins Gaulois imported of the famous 2009 vintage. When Mr. Lapierre passed away, the SAQ called me up to try to buy the wine back! I let them know 60$ a bottle was my price, after I had picked them up for $20 or so. I guess the SAQ exec was not so interested… I drank like a rock star that summer! I still have one bottle left, which is probably vinegar by now, but it’s a good souvenir… 11 bottles was enough.
Steve Shanahan (@BottleDJ)
July 10, 2012 at 11:14
I envy you the 2009, Steve. The one time I tasted it – at a Rézin event, where it was poured by Marcel himself – it knocked my socks off. Immediately tried to order some, to no avail of course. Now I know who to blame! 😉
carswell
July 11, 2012 at 10:16
I have a Montreal Wine Blogger’s meetup scheduled for the July 22… I was planning on bringing a bottle 2011 RG, you are more than welcome to attend. details on bottledj.com cheers.
Steve Shanahan (@BottleDJ)
July 11, 2012 at 23:18
Thanks for the invitation, Steve. Looks like I’ll be otherwise engaged but I’ll swing by if I can, er, swing it.
carswell
July 13, 2012 at 08:51