Morgon Vieilles Vignes 2025 | Marcel Lapierre
The Morgon Vieilles Vignes from the Marcel Lapierre wine estate is a cuvée that stands out in the Beaujolais region. For decades, the Lapierre family—now led by siblings Mathieu and Camille Lapierre—has been among the pioneers of the natural wine movement. This Vieilles Vignes cuvée is the movement’s most accomplished expression: Gamay vines aged 60 to 70 years, an exceptional terroir, and uncompromising winemaking.
Terroir and Grape Variety
Morgon is one of the most distinctive appellations in Beaujolais. Its soils—acidic granite sand mixed with schist—are poor and perfectly well-drained. This geological configuration forces the roots to dig deep, concentrating the expression of the terroir in every cluster. On vines of this age, yields are naturally limited, and the expression of Gamay is all the more concentrated. The resulting wine gains in density and aromatic complexity what it loses in volume.
Viticulture and Winemaking
The wine estate practicescertified organic farming, without any chemical inputs. The grapes are harvested by hand and carefully sorted. Winemaking follows tradition: whole-cluster carbonic maceration, using exclusively indigenous yeasts, with no added sulfur. Ageing lasts 9 months in used oak barrels, which adds structure without masking the fruit or the terroir.
Morgon Vieilles Vignes 2025 | Marcel Lapierre: The Sommelier’s Review
Philippe Mischler, sommelier at Mundovin
This cuvée illustrates what Beaujolais can offer when taken seriously. Gamay grown on granitic sandy soils is capable of great depth: few regions demonstrate this as clearly as Morgon. This 2025 Vieilles Vignes combines aromatic intensity, fine tannins, and minerality in a balance that’s worth the wait. It will reach its peak drinking period between 2028 and 2033, but decanting it for one to two hours before serving is enough to let it open up right now. Serve it around 15°C, paired with a grilled beef tenderloin, for example.
The Nose
The nose opens with black cherry and blackcurrant, bold and generous. Raspberry adds a lightness that balances the whole. A hint of violet emerges discreetly, followed by a subtly minty licorice note. As it breathes, a mineral, slightly stony touch reveals the Morgon granite.
Palate
On the palate, the attack is supple, almost ethereal. The Gamay’s silky texture gradually unfolds, supported by fine, well-integrated tannins. The aromatic freshness underpins the wine without ever making it harsh. The finish is long and mouthwatering, with a mineral persistence that echoes the soil.
Morgon: Everything You Need to Know About This Appellation
Morgon is one of the ten communal appellations of Beaujolais, located in the northern part of the region, in the Rhône department. Its identity stems from its soils of weathered granite sand, locally known as “roche pourrie,” which give the wines a depth and structure on the palate that are unusual for the Gamay grape variety. Morgon wines are renowned for their aging potential—or “morgonner,” as the locals say—evolving into fuller-bodied and more complex profiles over time.
Marcel Lapierre’s Morgon Vieilles Vignes is representative of the appellation’s finest potential. The combination of old vines, granite soil, and natural winemaking without sulfites results in a wine that transcends the typical fruity character of Beaujolais. It embodies the appellation at its most serious and enduring.
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