Desprès Family - Domaine de la Madone and Domaine du Niagara, Fleurie

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One of the very best Beaujolais estates, Domaine de la Madone is perfectly situated in the hills surrounding the 1866 Chapel of the Madonna which dominates the Fleurie skyline. The chapel sits high on the hill  dominating the village of Fleurie (and, indeed the whole of the region - it is visible from all 10 of the Beaujolais Crus). Standing on top of the chapel is the statue of La Dame de la Pétoche. Local legend tells when the Prussian invasion of France of 1970 was halted nearby, it was La Dame who 'put the wind up them' (pétoche). 

The best wines of Fleurie are thought to come from the granite hillside surrounding the chapel and it is on the southwest facing slopes that Jean-Marc Desprès cultivates his vines. Jean-Marc produces excellent wines: "Tradition" is a classic Fleurie with a feminine, floral bouquet and silky smooth fruit and firm structure. In addition to this, there is another estate, Domaine du Niagara, which Jean-Marc bought for his son Arnaud to develop. Arnaud has had great success with this early vintages, producing a wine which, for Fleurie, is quite firm with surprising longevity.

Beaujolais has had a run of good vintages in the last decade. Vintages such as 2002, 2005 and 2009 were quite special with years such as 2006 not far behind.