Famille Vincent Morgon 'Les Charmes Fuissé', Château-Fuissé, 2021
Famille Vincent Morgon 'Les Charmes Fuissé', Château-Fuissé, 2021
- 75cl
- 13.5%
- Red Still
- Gamay
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Optimal drinking window: Now - 2033
About Famille Vincent Morgon 'Les Charmes Fuissé', Château-Fuissé, 2021
Very fine and elegant, satin-like, with great lift to the pure fruit flavours alongside some earthy notes and a hint of graphite. This is a beautifully made wine that is classic Morgon and about as fine a Beaujolais as money can buy. Excellent value!
This gorgeous wine hails from the illustrious Famille Vincent, the owners of Château Fuissé and one of southern Burgundy's leading producers revered by critics. The single vineyard Morgon Les Charmes has been in the Vincent family for years and is a real hidden gem of the range that is "certainly worth seeking out" according to top critic Neal Martin. This combines the elegance and energy of Fleurie with an intensity and charm that is all its own.
Currently showing vibrant primary fruit with the granite minerality already well-integrated, this 2021 is drinking beautifully now. Over the next 2-3 years, the cherry and raspberry flavours will deepen while gaining more earthy, forest floor complexity typical of aged Morgon. The wine should reach peak drinking between 2028-2032, when the fruit and mineral elements achieve perfect harmony. It will hold well until 2035, gradually developing more savoury, almost Burgundian characteristics that make mature Morgon so distinctive.
Tasting Notes
AppearanceVibrant ruby with purple highlights, showing the intensity of the vintage.
NosePure red cherry and raspberry emerge first, followed by violet petals and a distinctive graphite minerality. There's an earthy undertone that speaks to the granite soils, plus a hint of white pepper that lifts the whole bouquet.
PalateSatin-textured with remarkable purity of fruit - the cherry flavours have real intensity without heaviness. The granite shows through as a mineral backbone, while gentle tannins provide structure without overpowering the wine's natural elegance. There's energy here, that classic Morgon combination of power and grace.
FinishLong and mineral-driven, with echoes of red fruit and a persistent earthy note that keeps drawing you back.
Overall impressionThis captures everything we love about fine Morgon - pure fruit, mineral depth, and that distinctive ability to age gracefully.
Food Pairings
In Beaujolais, this would traditionally accompany coq au vin made with local Gamay, the wine's acidity cutting through the rich sauce perfectly. Locals also pair Morgon with andouillette sausages from Lyon, where the wine's earthy minerals complement the robust charcuterie. Game birds like guinea fowl or duck breast work beautifully, as does the regional speciality of pike quenelles in a light cream sauce. The wine's elegance also suits the local goat cheeses from the nearby hills.
We think this wine would go well with
Serve lightly chilled at 14-16°C to preserve the wine's natural freshness and lift. No need to decant - this drinks beautifully straight from the bottle, though a brief opening 20 minutes before serving allows the aromatics to develop. Use large Burgundy glasses to concentrate the elegant aromatics and show off the wine's silky texture.
Les Charmes sits on granite-rich soils with decomposed schist, typical of Morgon's finest sites. The vineyard faces southeast at 300 metres elevation, capturing morning sun while benefiting from afternoon shade. This combination of granite warmth and cooling altitude creates wines with both power and elegance, giving Morgon its distinctive earthy minerality wrapped around generous fruit.
Morgon is arguably the most structured and age-worthy of the Beaujolais crus, sitting between the elegance of Fleurie and the power of Moulin-à-Vent. The appellation's granite and schist soils produce wines that locals call 'morgonner' - developing Burgundian characteristics with age. Unlike other Beaujolais that drink young, the best Morgons can cellar for a decade or more, gaining complexity and that distinctive earthy backbone that sets them apart.
The 2021 vintage in Beaujolais arrived after a genuinely challenging growing season that kept vignerons on their toes from spring onwards. Early budbreak met with devastating frosts in April, followed by a cool, damp summer that had many producers worried about ripeness and disease pressure. September delivered salvation with warm, dry conditions that allowed the Gamay to ripen properly, though yields were significantly reduced across the region due to the earlier setbacks.
What emerged from this adversity were wines with lovely freshness and aromatic intensity – the cooler conditions preserved the bright red fruit character that makes Beaujolais so irresistible, whilst the lower yields concentrated flavours beautifully. The cru Beaujolais show particular promise, displaying more structure than the sometimes exuberant 2020s, with that classic combination of juicy fruit and mineral backbone. Most 2021s are drinking wonderfully now, offering immediate pleasure whilst the crus will reward patience over the next five to eight years.
FAQs
What makes this Morgon special?
It comes from Les Charmes, a single vineyard owned by the Vincent family of Château-Fuissé fame. The granite soils give it both power and elegance, making it one of the most refined expressions of Morgon available.
How does this compare to other Beaujolais?
Morgon is the most structured and age-worthy of the Beaujolais crus. This has more depth and mineral complexity than typical Beaujolais, with the ability to develop Burgundian characteristics over time.
When should I drink this wine?
It's gorgeous now but will reward patience. Drink over the next decade, with peak drinking likely between 2028-2032 when it develops more complex earthy flavours.
What food pairs best with this wine?
Try it with roasted duck, game birds, or mushroom dishes. The wine's elegance also suits soft cheeses, while its mineral backbone complements charcuterie beautifully.
Should I chill this red wine?
Yes, serve it lightly chilled at 14-16°C. This preserves its natural freshness and shows off the pure fruit flavours that make Beaujolais so appealing.
Is this wine worth cellaring?
Absolutely. Unlike most Beaujolais, good Morgon ages gracefully for 10-15 years. This Les Charmes vineyard produces wines that develop fascinating complexity with time.
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