To those in the natural wine know, the name Christian Ducroux needs no intro. Despite being one of the earliest pioneers of organic, and biodynamic (since 1985!) farming he doesn’t get mentioned enough alongside the regions heavyweights. He farms just 6 hectares of old, densely planted vines around Lantignie on pink granite. At considerable altitude for the region and with a northerly exposure he manages to capture a freshness that is becoming increasing hard to find in the Beaujolais, where climate change has had more of an impact than most. The wines are vinified in whole bunches in large concrete vats in the modest cellar under the family home. After, they are moved to an old, and I mean OLD press. Sill going strong since the 1870’s, the free run juice and the subsequent presses are all bottled separately. Gravity then moves the wines to old casks and once ready are bottled without input. A true paysan vigneron, with a keen focus for the health of his land and a gentle touch in the cellar. The resulting wines nourish both body and soul. Wildy alluring in their youth they also offer great reward for those with more patient than me.