Domaine Franck Besson 'Rose Granit' Methode Traditionnelle Brut Rose Beaujolais

Winemaker Notes: 100% Gamay from vines over 40 years old with steep southern exposure in pink granite soils. 350 meters elevation. Hand harvested. Direct, whole cluster pressing of grapes, 6-12 hours skin contact with first fermentation in stainless steel tank for the ‘vin de base’. Traditional method vinification and aged 12 months on wooden “pupitre” at the estate. Riddling for 12 days. 10g/l dosage. Although not indicated this is a vintage wine.

Franck is one of the most unique winemakers in the Beaujolais. After he began working 4 ha of high elevation gamay vines near Jullié, which he inherited from his father-in-law, he recognized the quality of the terroir despite the fact that it was outside of the Cru designation. Franck’s stroke of brilliances was the idea of making methode Champenoise blanc de noir from this amazing gamay fruit. There isn’t another wine maker we know of in the world doing that! All of his vines are farmed organically and the fruit is entirely hand-harvested. In the cellar, the sparkling wines spend anywhere from 6 months to 3 years on lees before disgorgement. The Cru Julienas ‘Clos du Fief’ that Franck makes is aged for a year in 3 year old barrels.