Thibault Ducroux 'En Roue Libre' Beaujolais Villages

So what?

"Thibault Ducroux is one of those winemakers who has been enticed by the vine from practically a toddler’s age: the son of a Beaujolais grower, he recalls how quickly he became passionate while learning the basics of the trade in his father’s cellar. His desire to understand more about vine-growing led him to study a classical viticulture-enology course in the region, but the real game-changer came when he discovered the works of Jules Chauvet, the ingenious 20th-century research chemist, winemaker and négociant venerated as the father of the French natural wine movement.

In 2020, Thibault secured a long-term rental of 5 more hectares of old Gamay vines in the Morgon and Fleurie crus. All the vineyards are cultivated according to organic principles and are awaiting certification. Together with the high density of plantation (10,000 plants per hectare) and the impressive age of the vines (50 years on average), this allows Thibault to make wines that offer beautiful structure and terroir focus. In the cellar, the traditional Beaujolais practice of whole-bunch carbonic maceration is de rigueur, using indigenous yeast only. No further manipulations or additives, save for a tiny bit of sulfur at bottling, are used, just as Thibaut learned from all his colleagues. 

Thibault Ducroux farms these Gamay grapes on clay and silt soils himself, then ferments the wine via traditional whole-cluster carbonic maceration, then aged in concrete for eight months. It's only Ducroux's second vintage, but these are natural Beaujolais to look out for: fresh, fruity, and with verve. 'En roue libre' translates to 'freewheeling,' or cycling in a neutral gear: a nod to Ducroux's passion for competitive cycling, as well as hands-off, freewheeling viticulture and winemaking." - Importer notes