From Belair and Cercillon. Deepish crimson purple. Vivid rich strawberries on the nose. More tannins, a very attractive spiciness, invigorating, not too ripe and very persistent. Drink from 2026-2029. Tasted Dec 2024.

The 2023 Fleurie, crafted from two distinct plots—Bel Air, picked on the first day of harvest, and Cercillon, picked on the last—reveals a striking floral character, dominated by white powdery blossoms. On the palate, it is sappy and vibrant, bursting with concentrated flavors of raspberry and cherry, though simultaneously grounded by a lining of abundant powdery tannins. This combination stands as an impressive representation of the multifaceted nature of Fleurie, seamlessly blending the "hard" and the "soft" in a single cuvée. Domaine Lafarge-Vial, established by the Lafarge family in 2014, spans 6.5 hectares within Fleurie, Chiroubles and the Côte de Brouilly. The vines are farmed biodynamically under the Demeter certification. Mostly planted with old vines, the vineyards are worked with the goal of enriching the soil profiles, utilizing cover crops in the winter, 500P, 501 and herbal tea sprays. The domaine aims for refined, made-to-last Beaujolais, while still retaining the fruit's natural-born opulence. Thus, in the cellar, they opt to destem about 80% of the grapes, mostly by hand, after which the grapes undergo a two-week ambient yeast fermentation with daily pump-overs and a few punch-downs throughout. The wines are aged for 15 months in combinations of used 228- and 350-liter barrels and foudres sourced from the domaine in Volnay. The 2023s present a more polished and refined expression compared to the 2022s, exhibiting a slimmer, more dynamic profile while still

The 2023 Fleurie was a little more backward and stubborn than the Chiroubles on the nose. The palate is medium-bodied with a mix of sweet red cherries and orange zest, gentle grip and a harmonious, spicier finish.(NM)