The Claudius is drawn from an east-facing, two-hectare plot of the family’s oldest vines, which were planted by Passot’s great-grandfather in the 1940s. The wine was made similarly to the Chiroubles above (whole bunches, semi-carbonic maceration, wild ferment, no sulphur, gentle extraction), but saw a further three months in concrete for a total of 11 months maturation. Bottled unfined and unfiltered with a sulphur addition only at bottling.

At once intense – stacks of red fruit aromas – yet bright and crisp, this is an impressive Cru Beaujolais in the 2021 context. Juicy and quite structured on the sleek palate, the crisp tannins building nicely at the long finish. From this producer’s oldest vines. Drink or hold.