Dufaitre - 'Premices' - Gamay - Beaujolais Villages, FR - 2025

Notes from the Winery/Importer

Age of Vines: 50-70 years old Varieties: Gamay Vinification Method: The Prémices a parcel of Beaujolais-Villages vines and the grapes are fermented and aged in concrete tanks, with a very short maceration. This is an easy-drinking light style of wine. The flower bud on the label represents that this wine is the first flowery taste of the new vintage. Tasting Note: The Prémices is easy drinking and lighter than the Brouilly and Cotes de Brouilly, but it is anything but a simple wine. The lightness and elegance of this wine are balanced with a healthy dose of minerality and complexity that make this one for serious Gamay drinkers.

Notes on the Producer

Rémi and Laurence (his former wife) Dufaitre began purchasing vines in and around the Brouilly and Cote de Brouilly crus in 2006, he began to work the land organically, and started harvesting the grapes. Rémi started by selling his grapes to the local co-op, all the while monitoring the indigenous yeast population until he felt it was healthy enough to make his own wine. In 2010 he made and bottled his first vintage. When Jean Foillard tasted Rémi’s wine, he immediately sought him out, recognizing the obvious talent that must be behind the wine. Jean has since taken Rémi under his wing, introducing him to his vast and diverse list of Parisian clients. Remi’s wines currently have a very avid following in the bustling Paris natural wine scene as a result of this. Rémi is a member of the informal group that has evolved from Kermit Lynch’s “gang of four,” the producers in Morgon who studied with natural-wine-pioneer Jules Chauvet (winemaker and biologist), making natural wine (Foillard among them). This group has grown to include younger winemakers like Rémi, who are working in the same spirit. If you find yourself in Villié-Morgon on a Sunday morning or afternoon, take care because this group is likely to envelop you and make you drink Beaujolais all day until the wee hours of the morning! Rémi makes wines in a classic carbonic style, using whole bunches, which are carefully sorted to avoid broken grapes or rot. He adds some carbon dioxide gas to protect the grapes at the beginning of fermentation and does not use any temperature control. He avoids foot-stomping the grapes unless he sees some volatility starting to creep in. His goal is to have as little juice in the tank as possible. He also performs routine analysis to see how the yeast is performing and whether or not there is any volatility. Remi makes all his wines with the same method, thus we can really see and taste the differences between the sites, with minor differences in the elevage of each cuvée. He tastes each cuvée before bottling and may decide to add between zero and 2 mg of sulfur, depending on how stable he judges the wine to be.

Grapes & Style

Gamay

Gamay is the red grape of Beaujolais, and one of the best arguments for light-bodied red wine that still has energy, detail, and real character. It’s genetically related to Pinot Noir through the same Pinot and Gouais Blanc parentage, but it has its own personality: more immediate, more exuberant, and often more forgiving at the table.

In the vineyard, Gamay buds early and can be productive, so yield control matters. It thrives on the granitic soils of Beaujolais, especially in the crus, where it can move from juicy and playful to structured and quietly serious. It’s also found in the Loire and a few other cool-to-moderate regions where freshness is easy to preserve.

In the glass, Gamay often shows red cherry, raspberry, cranberry, violet, pepper, and a bright, mouthwatering lift. Some versions are simple and gulpable; the best cru Beaujolais can be savory, mineral, and surprisingly ageworthy. It’s a grape we love for its ability to be joyful without being unserious.