Marc Delienne Fleurie 'Abbaye Road' Magnum 2015

After years drinking and collecting some of the world’s the finest bottles, Marc Delienne retired from his day job in Paris to become a vigneron in his sixties. 

Delienne spent four vintages learning all he could about organic farming and low-intervention winemaking with the legendary Eloi Dürrbach of Domaine de Trévallon, as well as a stint at Alain Graillot’s Domaine de Fa in Beaujolais, before producing his own debut vintage in 2015.

Having transformed his property, Château de l’Abbaye, into a model of biodiversity and biodynamics, Delienne now farms 2ha of old Gamay bush vines near the top of Fleurie’s famous ‘La Chapelle’ slope, as well as 12ha around the domaine. Fermented with semi-carbonic macerations using native yeasts, his wines are bottled without fining or filtration and minimal added sulphur.

While Delienne’s entry-level Fleurie ‘Avalanche du Printemps’ provides effortless glou-glou drinking, his ‘Abbaye Road’ cuvée is a step up in terms of ambition and ageing capacity. Aged in a combination of Stockinger foudres and old Trévallon barrels, it balances the ripe, spicy fruit and concentration of the warm 2015 vintage with Fleurie’s hallmark floral lift and juicy acidity.

Now drinking brilliantly at almost a decade old, this illustrates perfectly why Pinot drinkers put off by Burgundy’s sky-high prices are turning to the extraordinary Gamays of top Beaujolais domaines. We’re thrilled to offer this parcel of Delienne’s critically acclaimed first vintage.

“Ripe cherry, raspberry, dusky violet, and wood smoke. Tight-knit and structured, with a deep core. Full-bodied with lovely balance and restraint.” Drink to 2028+. 91+ Points, William Kelly