Desjourneys through time
Stylistic maturity
2023
You could say it synthesizes the finesse and freshness of the 2021s, and the structure and substance of the 2022s. But in fact, it’s something else again. It’s an exciting year, and we look forward to discovering it in time. New parcels will be arriving too.
2022
A great vintage of structure, but balanced, with gentle extractions so as not to exacerbate nature’s generosity that year. The wines are both accessible and full-bodied, ideal for laying down. New parcel-based cuvées are on the way.
2021
A difficult but exciting vintage, with cool, late ripening due to both the spring frost and the temperate summer. We harvested late but ripe. The wines have been delicately vinified and are fine and concentrated.
2020
A vintage of great balance and seduction, with some of the finest perfumes we’ve managed to bottle. The textures are suave and velvety, the tannins fine. There’s no guarantee that these wines will close. First vintage of Fleurie La Madonne.
2019
A ripe but not excessive vintage, a vintage of seduction and balance, with wines that are both deep and sensual, capable of being enjoyed now as well as aged. The cuvées deliver a clear message. This is the only Fleurie Noli me tangere vintage.
Esthetic change
2018
Once again, a tannic vintage, generous in sunshine, which takes time to settle in, but slowly matures in bottle. We can start to open the “round” cuvées, Morgon and Chénas, but we need to wait for the parcellaires.
2017
A demanding year in terms of climate, with a spring frost that greatly reduced the harvest, but also the range of wines. These wines are the result of hyper-concentration and late, cool ripening, so it’s worth waiting for them. But the substance is there, and they will age for a long time.
2016
Like 2014, this is another great classic vintage, but with an extra touch of seduction and style, making the wines very appetizing. This year, they are perfectly representative of their origins: balanced, accessible and still capable of ageing.
2015
We’re entering a new era with even more stripped-down wines, which here, in a tannic, sun-drenched year, meant that the richness wasn’t overdone. To drink or keep. First vintage of Fleurie Sacré Graal and Moulin-à-Vent Le Styx.
2014
The 2014s come from a very fine, classic vintage, free from any thinness. The wines are precise and typical, representing their terroirs with precision. Accessible, they will continue to age well. This is, among others, the only vintage of Chénas Le Sot-l’y-laisse.
2013
Coming from a late vintage with low degrees, the tannic and strict 2013s were slow to make. They were released after 10 years of cellaring. In a spirit similar to 2010, the wines are starting to open up: they are slender and upright, built for the table.
2012
Fresher and more Burgundian in spirit, the 2012s mark a turn towards finesse and the disappearance of wood, the Chapelle-des-Bois cuvée being fairly representative. Exquisite fruit appears and refines. First vintage of Chénas Jugement Dernier and Morgon.
GENESIS
2011
The 2011 wines are from a sunny, tannic vintage that still needs time (in 2025). You won’t want to rush to open them, but when they reach maturity, they will resemble the style of Rhône wines, with their spicy, meaty, and above all tannic character.
2010
A demanding year in terms of climate, with a spring frost that greatly reduced the harvest, but also the range of wines. These wines are the result of hyper-concentration and late, cool ripening, so it’s worth waiting for them. But the substance is there, and they will age for a long time.
2009
The third vintage is powerful and generous. The wines are opulent, with notes of ripe fruit, spices and tobacco. They are beginning to reach their plateau of maturity, but still have great potential. Alongside Fleurie and Moulin-à-Vent, Fleurie Chapelle-des-bois and Moriers appear for the first time.
2008
In this second vintage, which also remains temperate, the wines have a little more finesse and precision. They are also to be drunk in a spirit of delicacy. It should be noted that the Fleurie was refused approval, and was named L’interdit that year.
2007
2007 is the first vintage in the estate’s history. It was produced with passion, honesty and hard work. Two wines were produced: a Fleurie and a Moulin-à-Vent, fully drinkable today. Quite fresh, they are northern and spicy.