And it is no ordinary operation, not least thanks to the collective talents at work in this incredible family.

The four-person family operation — Jean-Louis along with his children Ophélie, Justin and Lucas — is committed to sourcing organically-farmed fruit, which is still rare in Beaujolais (only 4% of the region is organic). The wines are vinified according to the same philosophy as those from the domaine. Despite the fact that none of the grapes come from Dutraive terroirs, the family has managed to craft a lineup that fits the Dutraive profile: fresh-fruited, energetic, ethereal and soulful wines that bring pure joy with every sip. The Dutraive magic lives on here.

Of the three children, Justin is the most active, putting his time not only into the Famille Dutraive micro-négoce, but also into the operations of Domaine de la Grand’Cour, as well as into his own eponymous Justin Dutraive label.

As the eldest son, he grew up overhearing conversations amongst (and sipping from the bottles of) Jean Foillard, Yvon Métras, and, of course, his father Jean-Louis. Following internships with family friends Jean Foillard and Julie Balagny, as well as harvests in Australia and Oregon’s Willamette Valley, Justin returned to the family domaine to work alongside his father.

Fleurie vineyards

Wise beyond his years, Justin openly shares and exchanges ideas with his legendary dad. The relationship between them is one of mutual respect and admiration, so they seem like very good friends and are an absolute pleasure to be around.

The resourcefulness and energy that seem to be Dutraive family traits are charmingly apparent in the next generation. In each project they take on, the siblings and their father support each other in a fully collaborative style of working — and this shows in every single wine they release. The wines of Famille Dutraive display the seductive clarity, soil-inflected depth and sheer joyful drinkability that are all hallmarks of the family's style. Given the results we've seen so far, we have no doubt that Famille Dutraive will quickly join the ranks of the appellation’s top stars.

For us, deciding whether to open a bottle from Domaine de la Grand’Cour or Famille Dutraive is not a straightforward choice. Notably, total annual production from the micro-négoce is currently smaller than that of the domaine. And the great appeal is the opportunity (especially for fans of the Dutraive style) to explore facets of Beaujolais beyond the more familiar Morgons, Fleuries and Brouillys, as these bottlings extend to Crus and appellations not covered by the domaine.

These elegant artisanal Beaujolais are in the same shipment as those from Domaine de la Grand’Cour. They’re all nearly here and expected to be available early next month (subject to customs’ final notice). The offer prices here are valid until 2 November 2020. Orders will be processed subject to remaining availability and final written confirmation. Full payment is required no later than 7 days after confirmation invoice has been sent to confirm the order. No further discount. All terms and conditions apply.