Francois Dumas, Gamay, 2022

Red Fruit, Earth, Lively

Rhône / Red / Gamay / Organic

The farming is certified-organic and the harvest is done entirely by hand. Grapes are carefully destemmed, gently macerated with minimal extraction and fermented spontaneously with indigenous yeasts and no added sulphur. The wine undergoes partial carbonic maceration to enhance its bright fruit character, followed by élevage in neutral vessels, mainly old barrels and concrete tanks, for around 8 months. Bottling is done without fining or filtration and minimal sulphur is used only at bottling if necessary. Lively, earthy, and pure Gamay expressing the granitic soils of the Northern Rhône.

Notes on the producer

Francois Dumas is part of a new generation of Rhône vignerons focused on crafting expressive, minimal-intervention wines from small, organic vineyards tucked away in the hills above Saint-Joseph. Working with old vines rooted in granite soils, Francois farms by hand and avoids all synthetic treatments, with an emphasis on soil health and biodiversity. His cellar work is gentle and traditional, favouring native fermentations, whole-cluster inclusion, and aging in neutral oak and concrete to preserve the vibrant, terroir-driven character of the fruit. His Gamay bottlings have garnered a cult following for their purity, energy, and striking sense of place, making them highly sought-after wines with very limited production—secure them while you can.