Why it matters
The producer
Granite soils and Gamay define Domaine de Thulon in Lantignié, Beaujolais. The red range moves from fruity carbonic styles to denser Burgundy styles, while the domaine also makes round, fruity Beaujolais Blanc and the longer, fuller Les Monterniers white.
Carine Ballandras handles commercial operations and Laurent Jambon serves as oenologist. The domaine keeps its wines tied to the character of Gamay, with direct fruit in the lighter bottles and firmer mineral notes in wines from granite ground.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
Domaine de Thulon is in Lantignié, in Beaujolais. Its named red wines include Régnié and Chiroubles, while Beaujolais Nouveau and Beaujolais Blanc keep the range tied to broader Beaujolais labels.
The range therefore moves from easy drinking Nouveau to bottles with red berry, floral and mineral character. The village name remains constant while the labels cover several levels of Beaujolais wine.
In the cellar
Vineyards and cellar
The current holding covers 17 hectares of vines. Vineyard maintenance requires manual work throughout the year, and the domaine follows reasoned agriculture to preserve the environment.
Beaujolais Villages Rouge is made from 100 percent Gamay, undergoes carbonic maceration and ages in stainless steel. Régnié is also 100 percent Gamay. In that wine, 80 percent of the fruit is destemmed and the wine ages on fine lees. Fine lees ageing can add roundness and texture while keeping the wine's fruit and mineral character in place.
Wines to know
The range in view
The range begins with Beaujolais Nouveau, a fruity, easy drinking red, and Boite a Gamay, which brings rich, juicy ripe cherry. The white wines include Beaujolais Blanc, a round and fruity wine, and Les Monterniers, which is long, full bodied and charming.
Beaujolais Villages Rouge and Régnié form the central red range. Chiroubles moves toward concentrated dark cherry and floral notes, with the capacity to age for 5 to 7 years. The bottles cover both immediate fruit and longer cellar development.
A useful way in
A bottle to begin with
Choose Beaujolais Villages Rouge. It is 100 percent Gamay from a granite hillside with southwest exposure, made with carbonic maceration and aged in stainless steel.