2023 Jane Eyre Fleurie Labourons, Beaujolais

Eyre has been making wine from this vineyard since 2016. 100-year-old vines on pink sand. Hand-picked. 60% whole bunch, 4 weeks on skins. Malolactic conversion in tank, then sulphured (to take no risks with brett) and moved to 500-litre old barrels, one 400-litre Clayver, and a little bit in tank. Vegan.
Lightish smudgy crimson. Fragrant sour-cherry and dark-red fruit. Lovely delicate note of stems and pepper. Finest of tannins, juicy and elegant – and still joyful. (JH)

16.5/20 jancisrobinson.com

Jane Eyre Fleurie Labourons is a finely textured and perfumed Gamay from one of the most revered crus of Beaujolais, crafted with sensitivity and finesse by one of Burgundy’s most celebrated micro-négociants. This wine hails from the Lieu-dit Les Labourons, a high-altitude vineyard in Fleurie known for producing wines of exceptional lift, floral aromatics, and ageing potential. Under Jane Eyre’s thoughtful touch, the fruit from this granitic slope transforms into a wine that is both soulful and precise.

Jane Eyre, originally from Melbourne, began her winemaking journey in Burgundy after arriving in France in 1998. She trained with respected names like Dominique Lafon and worked in both Burgundy and Germany before establishing her own label. Her approach is non-interventionist, focused on expressing terroir with as little manipulation as possible. Her move into Beaujolais was a natural extension of her Pinot-focused work—Gamay, in her hands, becomes equally elegant and site expressive.

Les Labourons is one of Fleurie’s most prized sites. Situated at around 400 metres above sea level, with decomposed pink granite soils and strong wind exposure, it offers excellent drainage and cool ripening conditions. The fruit here delivers purity, fine tannins, and a beautiful balance between floral delicacy and mineral backbone.

The wine is made with whole bunch fermentation using native yeasts, followed by ageing in old French barrels. This gentle approach preserves the vineyard’s energy while adding subtle depth and savoury complexity.

In the glass, Jane Eyre Fleurie Labourons offers aromas of violets, wild strawberry, raspberry, and crushed rock. The palate is lithe and layered, with silky tannins, red berry fruit, and a precise, mineral finish. It’s a Fleurie with Burgundian elegance and real ageing potential—light on its feet yet deeply characterful.

Ideal with charcuterie, roast duck, or a simple herbed chicken, this wine brings together history, high-altitude terroir, and a modern winemaker’s soulful touch.