Yvon Metras - Fleurie - Spring 2024
Yvon Métras's estate is one of the most sought-after references in Beaujolais, symbolizing a natural gamay of purity and finesse rarely matched. Situated on the granite slopes of Fleurie, the winemaker cultivates his vines with very low yields, applying an almost obsessive care to the soils and the ripeness of the grapes. No artifice, no superfluous inputs, a total trust in life and indigenous yeasts define the house's DNA. In this universe, the Fleurie Le Printemps 2024 cuvée stands as a particular expression of the cru, more immediate and luminous, designed to celebrate the first fruits of the vintage. It embodies Fleurie in its tenderest and most joyful version, with an emphasis on freshness, energy, and drinkability. It is a rare, highly coveted wine that translates into the bottle the vision of a great natural wine artisan.
Yvon Métras Fleurie Le Printemps 2024 is born from gamay parcels rooted in light granite sands, on well-exposed slopes that favor precise ripeness without excess. The harvest is entirely manual, with strict sorting to keep only perfectly healthy clusters, an essential condition for a winemaking without safety nets. Maceration is largely done with whole clusters, in the spirit of Beaujolais semi-carbonic maceration, which preserves the brightness of the fruit, the floral dimension, and that infused juice sensation so typical of the estate. Fermentations are conducted solely by indigenous yeasts, without inoculation or chaptalization, with sulfur kept to a minimum or even absent depending on the vintage philosophy. The aging, short and delicate, takes place in tanks or neutral containers to highlight freshness rather than wood. Bottled early, Le Printemps 2024 offers a direct and sincere reading of the vintage, in a crystalline and deeply lively style.
On tasting, Fleurie Le Printemps 2024 presents itself in a very clear ruby robe, almost translucent, announcing a wine full of finesse. The nose is intensely fragrant, with tart red berries, raspberry, redcurrant, fresh cherry, with notes of wild strawberry, peony, violet, and a slightly herbaceous touch that underlines the natural character of the wine. On the palate, the attack is straight, nervous, with fruit of great purity that literally flows over the palate, supported by a fine and thirst-quenching acidity. The tannins are ultra-silky, almost powdery, giving a lace-like texture that enhances the sensation of lightness and smoothness. The finish is long for such an airy wine, carried by a floral framework and a salivating tension that irresistibly invites another glass. Served slightly chilled, it pairs perfectly with fine charcuterie, pâté en croûte, roast chicken, seasonal bistronomic cuisine, grilled vegetables, or soft cheeses with light affinage.
Grape variety: 100% Gamay
