Domaine Paul Durdilly et Fils

Durdilly’s ‘Les Grandes Coasses’ is hands-down one of the finest “basic” Beaujolais wines you can find for the money; but honestly, there’s little that’s basic about it. Le Bois d’Oignt’s terroir secret is that many of its vineyards have soils that are pure limestone, the same “mother rock” of the Côte d’Or.

Which is why Gamay grown on Durdilly’s older-vine, high-altitude vineyard slopes is always refined and supple, with a complexity of flavor that will make you think Vosne, or even Chambolle—and then make you rethink everything you thought you knew about Beaujolais.

We’ve been coming to Paul’s family cellars for nearly three decades, to taste and be dazzled by the quality that these beautiful hills and humble man can deliver. What’s more, we’ve pulled bottles of ‘Les Grandes Coasses’ from our cellars after 10 to 15 years and have been astounded at the wine’s silky texture and freshness of fruit, even after so long.

While there has never been a better time to rediscover Beaujolais, market pressures have taken their toll on the region. As defeated winemakers pull their old vines from the soil and abandon their life’s pursuit, an art is being lost, an impeccable terroir betrayed. Artists like Durdilly stand as a sentinel to what Beaujolais can and should be, and what we need to preserve.