2018 Karim Vionnet Beaujolais Village

Region: Villié-Morgon < Beaujolais < France

Grape: Gamay

Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Organic farming, granite soil; carbonic maceration, stainless steel aging; bottled unfined/unfiltered with 10ppm added SO2; 12.5% ABV

Winemaker: Karim Vionnet

NEW VINTAGE ALERT! Our favorite Bojo Village is back!

Karim's story is pretty cool.  Born in Lyon to Arabic parents, he was adopted by a family in one of the Beaujolais Cru villages, Morgon.  His first career was a baker, but eventually fell into wine, as one does in this region, and got the natural wine bug by working as a vineyard-hand and winemaker for some of the OG natty wine dudes like Guy Breton and Marcel Lapierre. Technically a negociant (like many of our producers who don't own any vineyards), Karim is responsible for the organic farming and vinification of 5 hectares of plots around Beaujolais, mostly old-ish vines (40- to 60-year-old). He makes a bunch of different Gamay cuvees, all with carbonic maceration, that are insanely good (and sought after). 

This is Karim’s entry level Village wine, which is all clean, classic, grapey Gamay goodness. 2018 vintage was a little cooler than 2017, so its a little less dense than last year's, but you get the same juicy red fruit, soft, supple tannins and cherry-cola pop.  When in doubt about which wine to bring (that everyone will dig), go Gamay from Beaujolais preferably, like this clean, year-round crowd pleaser. #gamay4eva