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How one family is showing the many faces of Brouilly
Beaujolais is often reduced to a single image: Beaujolais Nouveau.
But ask any wine lover, and they’ll tell you the region’s real treasures are its ten Crus, villages capable of producing wines of remarkable elegance and character.
One of the finest examples is Brouilly, where Domaine Pierre André Dumas has quietly become one of the appellation’s most exciting family estates.
Their Brouilly 2023 perfectly captures everything that makes modern Beaujolais so compelling.
A family looking both forwards and backwards
Pierre-André Dumas is the son and grandson of winegrowers.
When he took over the family vineyards at the foot of Mont Brouilly, he didn’t simply continue the work of previous generations—he gave it a new direction.
The estate first embraced sustainable viticulture before converting entirely to organic farming, always with one guiding principle: the terroir should come first.
In 2015, another chapter began when Aurélie Durnérin joined the family estate.
Together, they developed two complementary ranges of wines: Pierre-André’s more classical cuvées and Aurélie’s natural wines. Different styles, but the same ambition—to let the vineyards speak honestly.
Brouilly: the joyful face of Beaujolais
Among the ten crus of Beaujolais, Brouilly is often considered the most approachable.
Its granite soils produce wines that are expressive rather than powerful, combining vibrant fruit with freshness and silky tannins.
It is a style that reminds us why Gamay deserves to stand alongside France’s great grape varieties.
Traditional winemaking with a gentle touch
The grapes are harvested entirely by hand before a partial destemming and temperature-controlled fermentation.
Ageing takes place partly in large old oak foudres and partly in stainless steel tanks.
This combination allows the wine to gain texture without acquiring obvious oak flavours, while preserving the bright fruit that defines Brouilly.
A light filtration before bottling completes a philosophy based on elegance rather than extraction.
In the glass
The 2023 vintage displays a deep ruby colour with an expressive bouquet of cherry, raspberry and wild strawberry, complemented by delicate aromas of peony, gentle spices and a refreshing hint of mint.
The palate is supple, airy and wonderfully drinkable.
Fine tannins support vibrant red fruit, while the granite soils bring a subtle mineral freshness that carries the wine towards a long, lively finish.
It is generous without ever becoming heavy.
Beaujolais has grown up
For too long, Beaujolais has been judged by one wine released every November.
Today, a new generation of growers is reminding the world that the region is capable of producing reds of remarkable elegance, authenticity and ageing potential.
The Pierre André Dumas Brouilly 2023 is one of those wines.
Organic, beautifully balanced and crafted by a family that combines tradition with fresh ideas, it is exactly the sort of bottle that makes people fall in love with Beaujolais all over again.
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