2017 Karim Vionnet Fleurie

Region: Fleurie < Beaujolais < France Grape: Gamay Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Organic farming, super old vines on granite soil; carbonic maceration in fiberglass, 8 months aging in old oak barrels; bottled unfined/unfiltered with 10ppm added SO2; 13% ABV Winemaker: Karim Vionnet Born in Lyon to Arabic parents, Karim was adopted by a family in 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 Cru Fleurie, one of his two top cuvees that get