Jean-Paul Thevenet 2022 Morgon Vieilles Vignes

The Thévenet (Jean-Paul and Charly)  Morgon VV is always one of the greatest of Beaujolais. From 4.75 hectares near Le Clachet, from vines averaging 70 years of age, with some planted before World War One. About 2,000 cases are produced. Vineyard work is biodynamic, fermentation is with wild yeasts at a moderately low temperature (10 - 13 degrees Celsius). Aging is mostly in old barrels from DRC with minimal extraction. The 2022 Vieilles Vignes is a superb Morgon, that retains all it's complex, earthy character while showing the beautiful ripeness of this outstanding vintage. On opening the wine shows a potpourri of bright red and black fruits with cherry skin and black raspberry, spice, citrus and earth. The palate is silky, but with firm earthy tannins, with sappy cherry/raspberry/strawberry fruit framed in grainy minerality which continues in the long complex finish. This will need some time to reveal its secrets, please give it a long decant if drinking now, best to cellar three to five years and drink until 2034+