Jean-Paul Brun is an artisanal vigneron in Beaujolais who has been crafting Gamay in a Burgundian spirit for decades. The popularity of his wines is greater than ever as wine lovers have started to realise there can be a more serious, ageworthy style of Gamay than over-commercialised Beaujolais Nouveau.

With the 2018 we have to offer today being his 40th vintage since establishing his winery, Domaine des Terres Dorées, the Wine Advocate's William Kelley says that Brun can look back with 'much deserved satisfaction' that his Burgundian approach to vinifying Gamay 'has done so much to validate the potential for quality in the southern Beaujolais'.

With his wines normally selling out on release, we are very excited to be able to offer the Jean Paul Brun 'Grille Midi' Fleurie 2018 today. Scoring 95 points from the Wine Advocate, the highest ever score for any wine from the estate, the rise in popularity hasn't affected the price, costing only £17.50 per bottle IB.

The top release from a whole list of wines that come 'warmly recommended' by Kelley, this 2018 comes from a south facing plot of old vines in the prime 'Grille Midi' lieux-dit in Fleurie. With beautiful complex aromas of black raspberries, rose petals, smoked meats and violets, it shows unusual density on the palate with 'bottomless core of concentrated fruit, velvety tannins and ripe acids' (WA).

Structured and fresh, it concludes in a 'long and sapid finish' (WA). Although very enjoyable already, Kelley gives this a long advised drinking window up to 2038.

Offered today at just £105 per case IB, the Jean-Paul Brun Grille Midi 2018 is a 'brilliant, age-worthy Fleurie worth special effort to track down' (WA).