Beaujolais is a region on the up. It sits in the southern portion of Burgundy, away from all the famous vineyards, and the wines are often seen as the poorer cousins of the esteemed Pinot Noirs from the north. Over the past few years the wines from the entire region just seem to keep getting better. Dominique Piron is a name synonymous with Gamay - 14 generations of winemakers from the family have made wine over the past 5 centuries! The recent release is excellent - full of bright, juicy fruit, with really tangy acidity and a beautifully soft texture. Really low in tannin, this glides like silk over your palate, perfectly ripe and full of cherry and raspberry fruit flavours. Delicious.

It’s official: Beaujolais wines are back. Overturning a less-than-ideal reputation at the end of the 20th century was fixed firmly in the minds of the vintners of this ancient corner of France, and wineries such as Dominique Piron were leading the unstoppable stampede towards success, style and newfound glory. Smaller yields, more natural processes, less emphasis on oak… these were the ingredients of the recipe for 21st century Beaujolais that Dominique Piron championed. Once winemakers across the region realised that they had pristine vineyards which date back to Roman France, and quality vines which the rest of the world would give their right arms to possess, all the pieces fell easily into place. Dominique Piron has some serious pedigree behind it, too. The estate has an ancestry which dates back to the early 16th century, and during Beaujolais’ many golden years, Dominique Piron was regarded as one of the region’s finest examples. The same can thankfully be said once more: the efforts of the latest generations of winemakers at Dominique Piron have paid off in spectacular fashion. A return to more natural winemaking techniques with minimal intervention allows the fruit to truly shine, and their Gamay grapes burst with ripe flavours and a rich, bright juiciness that can only come about with the very finest terroir. This is traditional, approachable, rustic French viticulture at its best - and if you’re yet to discover the joy of Beaujolais, there’s frankly never been a better time to begin.