Jean Loron: a quality focused negociant and vineyard owner in Beaujolais and the Mâconnais
Website: https://www.loron.fr/en/domaine/chateau-bellevue-en-2/
Maison Jean Loron have 150 hectares (owned or managed) in Beaujolais and Bourgogne (Maconnais), with vineyards in seven out of the ten crus. They believe that from certain terroirs, Gamay can age well, and have 30 000 bottles from pre-2000 vintages in their cellars. One of their properties is Château Bellevue in Villie-Morgon, with 15 hectares of vines in the crus: three of the wines tasted here came from this estate.
Jean Loron ‘Jean’ Chardonnay 2023 Vin de France
13% alcohol. Nice primary aromatics of pear drops and citrus, leading to a rounded palate with a sweet pear and lemon character, hints of mandarin, and a twist of aniseed. Nice fruit here with a fine spicy edge. 88/100
Jean Loron ‘Jean’ Gamay Noir 2022 Vin de France
13.5% alcohol. This has attractive ripe cherry and berry fruits with a savoury, slightly stony edge, with some woody hints. The fruit is well balanced and appealing but it tastes a bit like the effects of alternative oak products (although the website says this is just stainless steel maturation), with a slight clove note on the finish, and this is a distraction. Perhaps it’s a form of reduction. 84/100
Jean Loron ‘Jean’ Pinot Noir 2023 Vin de France
13.5% alcohol. Bright cherries with some redcurrant and plum. Juicy and with some plumpness to the fruit, this is an appealing wine with some lovely Pinot character, finishing with a touch of sweetness and a slight spiciness. 88/100
Château Bellevue Beaujolais ‘Princesse Lieven’, Pierres Dorees 2022 France
13% alcohol. Organic. Clay limestone soils with the limestone dating back 172 million years. Fine and mineral with a core of pear and ripe apple, as well as some white peach. There’s lovely chalky texture here. A ripe but balanced expression of Chardonnay with lots of detail. 92/100
Château Bellevue Morgon Côte du Py 2019 Beaujolais, France
14% alcohol. There’s a lovely savoury, almost metallic, bloody edge to the sweet black fruits here. It has some grainy, grippy structure and a firmness that really works well. Tending towards stern, this is classic Côte du Py, and has the potential for ageing. Quite delicious, in this savoury, firm style. 92/100
Château Bellevue Morgon Les Charmes 2021 Beaujolais, France
13% alcohol. There’s a hint of spicy reduction on the nose, together with sweet black cherry fruits, and it adds a slightly savoury character. The palate is fresh and bright, showing good concentration, with nice acidity supporting the juicy black cherry fruit. Firm and yet inviting with a smoky, spicy edge to the juicy fruits. Some firmness here, and I like the slight matchstick reduction because I think this will help the wine age well. 93/100
