A very welcome new-to-the-US entry from Brouilly: Domaine Aux Ardents!

We're introducing the domaine with a compelling pair of wines, both from the same vineyard, same vintage, same vinification in concrete – with one cuvée transformed by an extra year of barrel age. A delicious experiment in the somehow-still-expanding category of Cru Beaujolais...

Aux Ardents is the work of Thomas Juban and Mylène Lussiana, a couple who grew up in Beaujolais. Though not solely winemakers by trade (Mylène is a lawyer and Thomas a mechanic), they have found their true passion and hard work (ardents!) in making wine from the 2h surrounding their home in Brouilly.

Thomas in the cellar; the estate vines in Brouilly. Photos via Avant Garde

Their work encapsulates what we find in the best Beaujolais: thoughtful, organic farming; improved biodiversity (here by planting trees and beekeeping); minimal intervention winemaking that prioritizes terroir (and deprioritizes sulfur until as-needed at bottling. And, ultimately: expressive, joyous wine that adds another distinct voice to the larger region's talented set of newer domaines.

Below, we have both of their Brouilly bottlings: as we mentioned above, the same wine, but 'Margot' sees an additional year of aging in neutral barrel. A fascinating duo that shows the transformation of extra élevage.

If you've been excited by the region's newer entries (like Le Grappin, Les Garçons, and Brouilly star Pierre Cotton) we can't recommend enough that you get these in your glass:

2022 Domaine Aux Ardents, Brouilly 'Apache', Beaujolais, $39
On the rounder, more generous end of Cru Beaujolais, made with 9 days of semi-carbonic maceration and aged a full year in concrete tank. Unfined, unfiltered with extremely minimal sulfur added at bottling. Lifted but soft cherry fruit, and solidly delicious.

2022 Domaine Aux Ardents, Brouilly 'Margot', Beaujolais, $45
The same wine as above, but with an additional year of aging in 9 year old barrique. The transformation is remarkable, with extra layers of smokiness and sublime texture.

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