Petit Pérou
Villié-Morgon, Beaujolais
Under the watch of Laurent (4th generation) and Hugo (5th generation) their estate wines are classic, expressive Beaujolais made very much by hand in the family’s little cellar. The wonderful stories on each of their cuvees, not to mention the different personalities of each era of Thevenet that shaped what Petit Pérou is today, make these juicy Gamays a very welcome addition to our portfolio.
Hugo and Laurent Thévenet have been hard at work cultivating their precious Morgon vines, some 110 years of age, to craft wines that speak truthfully of the diversity of their terroir and their rich family history. The domain was founded in 1886. In a century, their vineyard holdings grew from 2 to 18 hectares, planted to Gamay for the majority, Chardonnay, then Syrah (since 2012). To this day, they are devoted to the meticulous cultivation of their vines, focusing on low yields of exceptional quality.
The Thévenet family’s history is tightly linked to Beaujolais’ prosperity. Henri Thévenet (second generation) was one of the producers who pioneered estate bottlings in the region. Before him, growers would sell their fruit to larger producers when it wasn’t used to produce wine for their personal consumption. Then, his son Roger extended their domestic footprint. With Laurent’s involvement, the domain thrived and sales followed. Since Hugo’s inception in 2015, Domaine du Petit Pérou has had a true international awakening.
2021 Beaujolais Rouge 'Tu m'tiens au jus'
Tu m’tiens au jus refers to Laurent and Hugo’s fluid, trusting father and son connection, which translates into the wine’s extreme suppleness and juicy fruit freshness. The term ‘jus’ (French for ‘juice’) also refers to electric current being passed on the way information circulates easily – a fitting name for a wine that keeps us abreast at every sip.
Winemaking:
This is a blend of fruit from 60-year-old Gamay vines grown in the Beaujolais appellation. The grapes were destemmed and put through semi carbonic maceration before spending 4 months in concrete vats and being bottled early in the season under CO2 to preserve the aromatic complexity.
Tasting Notes:
Here’s a wine that always goes down a treat. This generous cuvée shows off classic red berries and luscious strawberries and raspberries, hints of blackcurrant and a velvety texture, and finishes with a floral tinge adding complexity and elegance to each sip.
2020 Brouilly 'Pisse-Vieille'
The ‘climat’ of Pisse Vieille owes its name to a Patois Beaujolais expression. It is a play on words that infers a strong sense of place and is steeped in the region’s history. For the better part of a blissful year representing them, Domaine du Petit Pérou’s wines have shown us how classic, expressive Beaujolais made with heart and soil can convey the wonderful stories of the land and personalities of the characters who have shaped them. Enjoy a glass or two with slices of saucisson sec.
Winemaking:
Pisse Vieille’s south-facing slopes sit between 400 and 500 meters above sea level. This unique climate boasts 22 hectares of vines grown on clay, limestone, and granite soils. It is the only INAO (Institut National des Appellations d’Origine) recognised climat within the 1300-hectare Brouilly appellation area, which spreads over 6 Beaujolais communes around Mont Brouilly. The grapes were destemmed and put through semi carbonic maceration before spending 6 to 8 months in concrete vats.
Tasting Notes:
The iridescent ruby colour conjures wild raspberry, pomegranate and dehydrated strawberry aromas and flavours. The palate is complete with an enthusiastic acid drive, slippery tannins, and a moderate finish.
2021 Morgon 'Tradition'
Domaine du Petit Pérou was passed down from father to son over 5 generations who have seen the domain through two world wars. As indicated in the name, winemaking is a family tradition. Tradition echoes loud and clear in this hearty wine, generous yet trimmed enough to be enjoyed on its own or with coq au vin.
Winemaking:
The vines grow on clay and sandy soils, resulting in a pleasantly lush wine. The grapes were destemmed and put through semi carbonic maceration before maturing in concrete vats for 8 months. The wine was bottled under CO2 to preserve its freshness.
Tasting Notes:
Dark and broody, with intense aromas of cherry and blackberry and cassis. The tightly coiled palate slowly unfurls with sour cherry and bitter dark chocolate tannins, mixed with exuberant notes of dried mint and sweet liquorice.
2021 Morgon 'Vielles Vignes'
The Morgon Vieilles Vignes is crafted from carefully selected plots of low-yielding 80-year-old vines, including Morgon’s celebrated Côte du Py. The appellation is famed for its “rouches pourries”, crumbled, flaky rocks rich in iron oxide and manganese. These impart a red ochre colour to the soil. This ‘climat’ is prized for producing sublime Morgon.
Winemaking:
The whole bunches were hand harvested and put through semi carbonic maceration. The wine was matured in oak barrels for 12 months.
Tasting Notes:
It’s a dark and complex interpretation of Morgon. Ripe cherry, blackberry and sweet liquorice aromas and flavours are complemented by subtle savoury and floral notes (rosemary, violets). The palate is plump and generous, yet extremely well defined thanks to grippy tannins adding depth and length to the finish.
2020 Morgon 'Côte du Py'
The Morgon Côte du Py comes from very old, south-facing plots that grow on schist and granite at an altitude of 300 meters above sea level. 2019 can be described as warm and dry, a clear sign of climate change, which, according to Hugo has had for effect to reduce acidity and produce more generous wines.
Winemaking:
The grapes were put through semi carbonic maceration before maturing in concrete vats for 8 months. The wine was aged in old oak barrels for 18 months, then bottled under CO2 to preserve its freshness.
Tasting Notes:
The palate is so pleasantly full, with a green tinge adding tension. Wild berry, red plum, and redcurrant characters dance in unison with chewy tannins and rich confectionary notes of chocolate and liquorice. This is a plush gamay showing the full aromatic and flavour breadth of a warmer year.