Domaine de la Grosse Pierre Fleurie Bel Air 2021 (6 Bottles) Beaujolais, France

At under half a hectare, Bel-Air is Passot’s smallest holding. The parcel is just across the Chiroubles border, and the vines were planted around 1960 on the famed granit rose that composes most of the soils associated with this cru. Passot’s gentle touch with this wine is the same as above, with 11 months maturation in tank. Stepping out of Chiroubles, there’s a change of mood.

There is more blue fruit alongside mouth-watering floral, saline and mineral lines and the tannins are also turned up a notch.

Another success is the 2021 Fleurie Bel-Air, a medium to full-bodied, fleshy and supple red evocative of cherries, mulberries and sweet spices. Built around lively acids and powdery tannins, it’s a strong effort in this challenging vintage.