“Indigène” Fleurie 2023 – Domaine Grégoire Hoppenot

To produce the “Indigène” Fleurie Domaine Grégoire Hoppenot the hand-harvested grapes underwent a 10-day maceration as whole bunches in 60-hectolitre concrete vats. Fermentation took place with natural yeasts at controlled temperatures below 30°C, with pump overs performed daily to achieve a gentle extraction. After pressing, temperatures were kept below 20°C to preserve the pure, fresh fruit characters. It spent seven months ageing in concrete vats before bottling.

Fleurie `Indigene` is a blend of young vines from two parcels, ‘Les Roches’ and ‘Les Garants’. The vineyards are situated around 300 metres above sea level on south and east facing slopes, trained in a double cordon system. The soil is very light and sandy over a granite bedrock. Fleurie `Indigene` is the first of the Hoppenot wines to be organically certified.

Grégoire Hoppenot was named ‘Discovery of the Year’ in 2021’s Revue des Vins de France. Following two years as director of the Chapoutier-owned Maison Trénel in Beaujolais, the young Grégoire Hoppenot installed himself in Fleurie, where he has leased nine hectares, along with a small plot in Morgon. His vineyards comprise several enviable parcels: Les Moriers, Les Garants, Poncié, La Roilette and Les Roches in Fleurie, and Corcelette in Morgon. The vineyards are located on poor granite and sandy soils which give the wines a beautiful freshness and precision. They are farmed organically, being two years into the transition to organic certification. Grégoire is meticulous and gentle in both vineyard and cellar. He describes his winemaking as ‘intuitive’, using indigenous yeasts and low sulphur.