93 points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "The 2020 Lafarge-Vial Joie du Palais bottling of Fleurie is again nicely red fruity in this ripe year, delivering a refined aromatic constellation of cherries, sweet cranberries, a bit of orange peel, a fine base of granitic soil, woodsmoke, pigeon and a touch of youthful fresh thyme in the upper register. On the palate the wine is far more mineral in personality out of the blocks than the straight Fleurie, with a full-bodied and complex format, a lovely core of red fruit, fine-grained tannins and a long, well-balanced and very promising finish. This will need a few years in the cellar to properly blossom. 2026-2060. (May/Jun 2022)"
91 points/'Outstanding/Top Value,' Allen Meadows (Burghound): "This is exceptionally pretty, indeed blind it could easily pass for a wine of pure pinot rather than 100% gamay with its cool and layered aromas of various red berries, spice and soft pepper wisps. There is even better refinement to the detailed and minerally if slightly less complex flavors that conclude in a dusty and mildly austere is solidly persistent finish. Lovely. Drink: 2026+. (Apr 2022)"
90 points Neal Martin (Vinous): "The 2020 Fleurie La Joie du Palais comes from a steeper vineyard and is de-stemmed by hand (30% whole bunch). It has an incense scented bouquet, hints of lavender and violet petals. The palate is medium-bodied with gentle grip, quite fleshy in the mouth, more red fruit laced with crushed stone on the finish. Very fine, perhaps a couple of years in bottle required. Drink: 2024-2035. (Dec 2021)"
90 points Jasper Morris, MW (Inside Burgundy): "The 70% destemming of the fruit here has been done by hand. Just a little deeper in purple and even more perfumed. Very peppery on the palate, which I understand is often the case here, no more than medium concentration, but an attractive wine with a long finish. (Oct 2021)"
91 points/'Outstanding/Top Value,' Allen Meadows (Burghound): "This is exceptionally pretty, indeed blind it could easily pass for a wine of pure pinot rather than 100% gamay with its cool and layered aromas of various red berries, spice and soft pepper wisps. There is even better refinement to the detailed and minerally if slightly less complex flavors that conclude in a dusty and mildly austere is solidly persistent finish. Lovely. Drink: 2026+. (Apr 2022)"
90 points Neal Martin (Vinous): "The 2020 Fleurie La Joie du Palais comes from a steeper vineyard and is de-stemmed by hand (30% whole bunch). It has an incense scented bouquet, hints of lavender and violet petals. The palate is medium-bodied with gentle grip, quite fleshy in the mouth, more red fruit laced with crushed stone on the finish. Very fine, perhaps a couple of years in bottle required. Drink: 2024-2035. (Dec 2021)"
90 points Jasper Morris, MW (Inside Burgundy): "The 70% destemming of the fruit here has been done by hand. Just a little deeper in purple and even more perfumed. Very peppery on the palate, which I understand is often the case here, no more than medium concentration, but an attractive wine with a long finish. (Oct 2021)"
| Product SKU | 348713 |
| Producer | Lafarge-Vial |
| Country | France |
| Region | Beaujolais |
| Varietal | Gamay |
| Vintage | 2020 |
| Size | 750ml |
| Color | Red |
| ABV | 12.5% |
| Ships To |
