Wine of the Week: Domaine Mont Bessay Juliénas en Bessay 2022 | Beaujolais, France

Juliénas | October 28, 2024

An estate created by an experienced biodynamic team on the greatest Northern territories of Crus Beaujolais

In 2020, the Pascal family, owner of the famous Givry estate Domaine du Cellier aux Moines, along with their trusted winemaker and co-manager Guillaume Marko, decided to create together another domaine in another not-too-distant wine region, where they could leverage their experience from Domaine du Cellier aux Moines and be co-owners. They chose to invest in Juliénas, the Northernmost Cru of Beaujolais.

With great fortune, they had the opportunity to buy a total of 6 hectares, from 3 different owners, on a hill overlooking the village of Juliénas, with a stunning view, a perfect Southeast exposure, and a rather high and cool altitude for the area. Both Philippe Pascal and Guillaume Marko fell in love with the location, the terroir, the granitic soil, and the view.

The decision to farm organically and to move to biodynamic winemaking was taken immediately. Philippe’s and Guillaume’s ambition is to create an iconic estate within the Crus of Beaujolais and to establish a “Grand Cru” status in a region where there is no classification yet… To do so, they committed to making the greatest possible wines, expressing their respective terroir, with elegance and depth, and an ability to age.

The winemaking there is completely in line with the one carried out at Domaine du Cellier aux Moines. The only prevailing principle is to intervene as little as possible to enable a full expression of the terroir’s character.

The label is a nod to the wild hares, often seen in the vineyards, and occasionally “boxing” during mating season.