Beaujolais 'JouJou' 2021, Clos Bateau

With the 'JouJou' 2021 cuvée, Clos Bateau brings the electric energy and unadulterated purity of Lantignié straight to your glass. Often referred to by wine insiders as the "hidden 11th Cru of the Beaujolais", Lantignié represents one of the most exciting natural wine terroirs in France. The cooler 2021 vintage lends this Gamay an extra layer of refinement, crisp acidity, and fascinating tension.

On the nose, JouJou 2021 opens expressively with enticing aromas of crunchy cherry, ripe blackberries, dark chocolate, baking spices, and a delicate floral lift. On the palate, this natural wine is playful, fresh, and bursting with energy, featuring an almost electric tactile mouthfeel. Generous red fruit notes merge seamlessly with crisp minerality and a refreshing, clean finish. Glouglou at its absolute finest!

Key Highlights

• Terroir: 100% Gamay sourced from old vines (≥ 50 years old) in the lieux-dits Les Monthieux and Montmerand in Lantignié (approx. 330m altitude), planted on decomposed pink granite, clay, and quartz.
• Winemaking & Ageing: Spontaneous fermentation using native yeasts with low intervention. Aged partially in stainless steel tanks and partially in traditional buried Qvevri amphorae to preserve the pure fruit and mineral drive of the 2021 vintage.
• Sustainability: Bottled under strict natural wine principles: unfiltered, unfined, and with zero added sulfites (sans soufre ajouté). Farmed with a holistic approach featuring free-roaming farm animals in the vineyards.
• Tasting Profile: Energetic, playful, and multi-layered. Notes of fresh cherry, blackberry, dark chocolate, soft spices, and an electric mineral finish.
• Ageing Potential: At its absolute peak of freshness and energy now, with the structural balance to drink gracefully over 2 to 4 years.

Food Pairing

• Poultry & Meat: Outstanding alongside roasted duck breast with a light berry reduction or rosemary-grilled chicken.
• Vegetarian: Excellent with roasted seasonal vegetables tossed with Provençal herbs or spiced lentil stews.
• Cheese & Charcuterie: An ideal partner for a curated cheese board featuring creamy and aged cheeses, or artisanal French charcuterie.
• Serving Suggestion: Best served slightly chilled between 12°C and 14°C to accentuate its vibrant freshness and energy.

The Terroir of Lantignié

Situated at approximately 330 meters elevation west of Régnié, the terroir of Lantignié is characterized by weathered pink granite interwoven with quartz and clay strata. These nutrient-poor, mineral-dense soils—coupled with cool air currents flowing from the surrounding hills—force old Gamay vines to root deeply. The resulting wines boast a striking harmony of ripe fruit concentration, crisp acidity, and a signature mineral drive.

About Clos Bateau

Clos Bateau is the artisan domain founded by Thierry & Sylvie Klok de Visser, who embraced full-time viticulture in Lantignié in 2019. Across their 5.5-hectare estate, they foster a thriving ecosystem where free-roaming farm animals naturally tend to the soils between the vines. Guided by low-intervention winemaking, amphora maturation, and zero added sulfites, Thierry and Sylvie craft authentic natural wines bursting with personality and joie de vivre.