2015 Maison L'Envoye Fleurie Château Vivier Gamay Noir

Maison L’Envoye, or “the house of the messenger,” is an international wine making and distribution enterprise founded by Oregon winemaker Mark Tarlov and Old Bridge Cellars, a wine importer led by Rob Buono and Gavin Speight. Maison L’Envoye produces Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Gamay Noir from properties in Burgundy, Oregon and Tasmania. The wines have earned scores in the low 90s from reviewers.

Fleurie is a village located near the center of Beaujolais, and the Beaujolais Cru appellation named for it encompasses nearly 2,000 acres of vineyards. Many admirers of Beaujolais consider the Fleurie appellation to be one of the best, if not the best, of the Cru appellations and its wines are generally lush and aromatic. Some 500,000 cases are produced annually. Like nearly everywhere else in Beaujolais, the only grape grown is Gamay. Fleurie the village is charming and quaint and attracts many tourists.

The Gamay grape produces a light, versatile and food-friendly wine. It is best known for making Beaujolais Nouveau, but it is also grown in Loire and Tours. Thankfully the 14th C. Duke of Burgundy’s degree to ban the grape did not spread through all of France.