Famille Dutraive Chenas En Papolets, Beaujolais, France 2016

With a father like the beloved and famous Jean-Louis Dutraive it does not hurt the eldest son in his quest to find his own voice amongst the vines and rolling hills of the sleepy appellation of Beaujolais. With the region gaining much attention from wine geeks worldwide due to the versatility of the wines (for dining or just flat out drinking), the camaraderie of the vignerons is unparalleled. There is a young, energetic group with easy access to top vineyard sites and everyone is cheering each other on.

After the devastating 2016 vintage, which was wiped out from hail storms, the producers remain affable and optimistic. This is how "Famille Dutraive" came about; it's a negociant project co-owned by Jean-Louis and his three children. The fruit is sourced and then vinified by the Dutraive family in their cellars.

En Papolet is a lieu dit hailing from the village of Chénas sitting at an altitude of 300 meters. Charles Thillardon, owner of this site, are organic farming champions of Chénas. Jean-Louis Dutraive took the brothers under their wing after meeting them back in 2009.