Justin Dutraive

29 September 2022

Following in the footsteps of his father Jean-Louis – one of Beaujolais’s most respected vignerons – Justin Dutraive is bringing youthful energy to Fleurie. Still in his twenties, Justin has made a mark with distinctive, joyful wines that exemplify why many Burgundy lovers are seeking value further to the south.

Growing up drinking the pioneering low-intervention Bojos of Marcel Lapierre, Yvon Métras, and Jean Foillard et al, after graduating from wine school and interning with Foillard and Julie Balagny, he returned to work at his family’s historic estate, Domaine de la Grand’Cour in Fleurie.

Sharing Jean-Louis’s ethos of “minimal intervention; maximum surveillance”, Justin uses organic and biodynamic practices and no fining or filtration to craft high-quality Gamays. Vinified in fibreglass and aged in a combination of Burgundy demi-muids, foudres, and stainless-steel tanks, his wines combine ethereal perfumes with silky textures and finesse.

In 2015, he took over 1ha of vines below the village, as well as two lieux dits on the region’s famous pink granite soils: the tiny 90-year-old ‘Chapelle des Bois’ planted by his grandfather and a portion of ‘La Madone’ – a steep, south-facing slope and arguably the leading vineyard of the appellation.

From 50-year-old vines, ‘Les Bulands’ is lively and pure, with sappy fruit and earthy mineral accents. ‘Les Tours’ – sourced from Saint-Étienne-la-Varenne, near Brouilly – shows more structure and power, its dark berry fruit tinged with dried herbs and flowers. Delicate and lifted, ‘La Madone’ resonates with spice-accented fruit flavours and effortless vibrancy.

Beaujolais ‘Les Bulands’ 2020 (£34)  Sold out
From a 1ha parcel beneath the village of Fleurie. Lively and pure, displaying detailed ripe red fruit notes that take on spice and mineral accents with air. Fresh and juicy.

Beaujolais Villages ‘Les Tours’ 2020 (£39)  Sold out
From vines in Saint-Étienne-la-Varenne, near Brouilly. Showing more structure and power with dark juicy fruit tinged with wild herbs and chalky minerality. Silky soft.

Fleurie ‘La Madone’ 2020 (£52) Sold out
From the steep, south-facing ‘La Madone’ slope, this combines an expansive floral character with sweet fruit, spice, and a hint of gaminess. Impressively long and finessed.