Fleurie La Carioca Julie Balagny 2011

Julie Balagny was one of the young leading lights who have left their mark on Beaujolais and continue to inspire the region today. Born in Paris, Julie left the capital to be closer to the community of winemakers she always admired. She first cut her teeth at Château de Rey, then at Domaine Terre des Chardons in the south of France; spotted by Yvon Métras, she set up her business in Fleurie in 2009.
Passionate about Gamay, she cultivated Gamay across 3.2 hectares in Fleurie, 1 hectare in Beaujolais and 0.7 hectares in Moulin-à-Vent. Initially drawn to the principles of organic farming before embracing natural wine, she ultimately abandoned all certification, championing above all a reasoned, pragmatic approach to viticulture rather than the constraints of a label. She treated her vines with herbal infusions and added neither yeast nor sulphur to the wines, relying solely on vatting temperatures. She prided herself on giving the wines plenty of time, so she could bring natural wines that were stable to the market. As a result, these are bold, full-of-character wines that are now recognised across the region and well beyond.
Following their tragic passing in 2023, the estate remains closed but continues to leave a lasting impression.

Julie Balagny achieves an authentic expression of her vines with La Carioca. Fruity and with good acidity, the mouth shows intense and concentrated fruit underpinned with animal notes. Julie uses somewhat atypical vinification methods compared to others in the region. She cultivates the old vines according to biodynamic principles and the grapes are harvested at optimum ripeness. Cold carbonic maceration ensures freshness and purity of fruit.