Domaine Lagneau

Cote de Brouilly

During a trip to Beaujolais in the Spring of 2014, my schedule found itself completely booked with visits to several promising winemakers of the region. I had sent a request to Domaine Lagneau and it was much later before Jeannine Lagneau replied and extended an invitation to their house. I declined as my schedule was quite packed. But, every once in a while (OK, more than once in a while), I listen to my intuition and my inner voice said I needed to visit this place in Quincié en Beaujolais. I wrote back to her saying that we would love to drop by and visit them. It turned out to be a memorable visit.

Domaine Lagneau is a family that owns some of the oldest vineyards here. Some of their wines are almost 100 years old! Yowza! They are also fortunate that they own properties in Régnié, Cote de Brouilly as well as properties in the Beaujolais AOC. Exteremely innovative, I got to try a Cremant de Beaujolais which is a sparkling wine version of the region as well as a Beaujolais rosé. Their Beaujolais Villages is probably one of the best examples of it’s kind!

Wine is ultimately about people. Heck, ultimately everything is about people. The family Lagneau are kind and warm and hard working folks. They tend to some of the finest properties that I have seen. It is no wonder that they make such delicious wines! I am grateful that they shared their lunch consisting of bread, cheese, cured sausage and ham.

Several months after we decided to represent Domaine Lagneau, we learned that Jeannine Lagneau is the sister of Dominique Passot ( of Domaine Passot )! How incredible is that coincidence! I don’t believe everything is a coincidence. Some is dumb luck, but some things are just meant to be. Thus an import company from the foothills of the Sierra Nevada came to represent two of the finest wineries in Beaujolais.

These are the wines of Gerard, Jeannine and their son Didier Lagneau! They speak pretty much for themselves.

 Régnié: This is a deep red wine, rich with fruits, spice, a mineral edge with balance and harmony that is both elegant and invites itself to a good dinner! Made from grapes from almost 70 year old vines, this will cellar well for the next 3-4 years!

Cote de Brouilly: When asked to name some of the best Beaujolais I have tasted, Domaine Lagneau’s Cote de Brouilly invariably comes to my mind. And to think that I almost didn’t go here. This comes from a small 1.5 acre vineyard but considered one of the finest on these slopes. This wine is rich, concentrated, black currants, violets, a hint of sauvage, silky in the mouth and a long finish. Simply delicious! At this price, you would be foolish not to grab a case or two.

cote-de-Brouilly

2012

cote-de-Brouilly

2013

Régnié

2012