Seriously Joyful Spring Wine

Has there ever been a more appropriate wine appellation for springtime than Fleuri! The name comes, as legend has it, from a Roman Legionary called Florus who settled there, but the modern French translation of "Flowery" is pretty fitting. There is no denying that Fleuri is considered one of the most elegant, and yes, aromatic, of the Beaujolais crus.

Situated at the northern end of the Beaujolais, the cooler microclimate and sandy pink granite soils produce wines with bright floral (of course) aromatics, a fruity, dense mid-palate, and plenty of structure to age. It is both a serious wine and a pure joy to drink.

I’ve talked before about Beaujolais, and its mixed history here in the US - its reputation has endured many phases: the "vile-weed" reputation... the Beaujolais Nouveau craze… the Natural-istas… all the while, good, solid Cru Beaujolais has been delivering smiles to people's lips with honest and joyful wine.

None more so than Clos de Mez. Marie-Elodie had seen this checkered history play out in her backyard, with family plots of vineyard situated in Fleuri. She knew better than most the potential for greatness that went along with the spirited joyfulness of the wines. While she eschews the more modern school of Beaujolais—juicy, tooti-fruiti, and headache-inducing—she still knows how to lean into the pretty aspects of the appellation with her Mademoiselle Mcuvée.

Marie-Elodie’s wines are among the finest examples of Beaujolais I’ve come across. It is youthful and bright, with the kind of depth and staying power that would make a lot of Burgundies envious.

Clos de Mez Fleurie 'Mademoiselle M' 2022

Marie-Elodie’s wines are always lively, finely-layered, and filled with finesse. This Fleurie leans into the playful side with a ripe and juicy wine, highlighting Gamay’s number one quality: Liquid happiness in a glass.