Marc Delienne

From Paris to Fleurie

Marc Delienne chose to leave his Parisian life behind to pursue his passion: wine. At the age of 50, after a career in IT, he set off to train in the field with Alain Graillot at Crozes Hermitage, then with Eloi Dürrbach at Domaine de Trévallon, in Provence, where he learned the skills of the trade, respect for the soil and the rigors of applied viticulture.

On the strength of these experiences, he decided to settle in Beaujolais, convinced of the potential of this underestimated region. In January 2015, he bought an emblematic property in the heart of Fleurie : Château de l'Abbaye Saint-Laurent d'Arpayé. He carried out extensive work there, notably to install his winery, and released his first vintage the same year. Since then, the former IT specialist turned artisan winemaker has passionately translated the essence of Beaujolais and the elegance of Fleurie into wines of rare precision.

Preserving soils, sublimating terroirs...

For Marc Delienne, respecting the natural rhythm of the vines and striving for uncompromising purity are the essential conditions for revealing the full depth of his Fleurie terroirs. Right from the start, his guiding principle has been to work his vines like a living garden, without artifice or compromise. In 2015, he began converting all 15 hectares of the wine estate to organic and biodynamic viticulture, planted with old vines of Gamay, the appellation's king grape variety, and a few plots of Chardonnay.

The soils are worked mechanically and free of any chemical weedkillers, so as to allow microfauna and flora to express themselves. Yields are deliberately limited to ensure concentration and balance rather than quantity. Each plot is harvested by hand at optimum ripeness, with meticulous sorting to ensure that only the healthiest grapes are kept.

On the decomposed granite soils typical of Beaujolais, which give the wines their uprightness and mineral tension, Gamay finds an ideal terrain for expression. Here, its grapes reveal floral and spicy aromas, which Marc Delienne chooses to enhance through natural winemaking.

... and reveal the quintessence of Gamay

In the cellar, the philosophy remains faithful to respect for living organisms. Fermentations are carried out exclusively with the indigenous yeasts present on the grapes, without the addition of selected yeasts or superfluous inputs. Depending on the nature of the vintage and the parcel, the cuvées undergo carbonic, semi-carbonic or traditional macerations, which are often lengthy, to extract finesse from the grapes without overpowering the fruit. Ageing is conceived as an enhancement rather than a transformation: it takes place in foudres, concrete vats or barrels. These technical choices are adapted to the profile of each wine and aim to preserve the freshness, verticality and depth that characterize Marc Delienne's world.

Fleurie according to Marc Delienne

Domaine Marc Delienne produces a majority of red cuvées, including the sincere and convivial Beaujolais Maurice, made from Gamay grapes grown on granite terroirs. Supple, fresh and direct, it embodies the most accessible face of the wine estate, that of a wine for sharing, with bright, disarmingly frank fruit.

In a more intimate vein, Fleurie À mes Papas is Marc Delienne's vibrant tribute to his two spiritual fathers and guides on his winegrowing journey. In this cuvée, carbonic maceration releases youthful energy, tender elegance and striking floral intensity. Alongside it, the Fleurie Greta Carbo uses the same technique to explore a more whimsical register: a Fleurie with dazzling notes of red fruit and sweet spices, seductive in its greediness, airy vitality and sparkling sapidity.

Traditional winemaking reveals other facets of the wine. Fleurie Avalanche de Printemps expresses the lightness of pure, crisp fruit carried by a delicate structure. Fleurie Abbaye Road, from the historic vineyards surrounding the former abbey, offers a more meditative style: full-bodied and structured, this wine unfurls a depth that calls for cellaring and magnifies the nobility of the granite terroir. Finally, Le Fleurie La Vigne des Fous stands at the pinnacle of the wine estate's expression. Vertical, racy and chiselled, this cuvée embodies Marc Delienne's vision: that of a Fleurie capable of rivalling the greatest vins de garde, while remaining true to the floral grace and verticality that define the cru.

Each vintage of Domaine Marc Delienne confirms the singular place that the winemaker has carved out for himself in Fleurie, and which radiates throughout the Beaujolais region. With wines that are both vibrant and precise, he succeeds in combining the rigor of his plot-based work with the creative drive that guides each of his cuvées. Today, this alchemy is attracting the attention of top critics and passionate wine lovers alike, who recognize in his approach the emergence of a new lease of life for Beaujolais. More than just a wine estate, Marc Delienne embodies a true life project, where exacting standards and sincerity come together to give Gamay the brilliance and depth it deserves.