Marcel Lapierre Morgon

About this wine

The benchmark natural wine Morgon from the father of the natural wine movement in Beaujolais. Made without sulfur, showing deep volcanic terroir character from the Mont du Py slopes.

Sommelier's Note

"Marcel Lapierre Morgon is the wine that launched a thousand natural wine careers — its crystalline purity shows what Beaujolais can be when the winemaker gets out of the way"

Food Pairings

Excellent with charcuterie (especially Lyonnaise-style), roast chicken, duck confit, pâtés, mushroom risotto, and lightly spiced dishes. Slightly chilled at 14–15°C, it is one of the most versatile food wines in France. Japanese pairing: grilled chicken with ponzu, duck sukiyaki, shiitake mushroom dishes.

When to drink it

Natural wine dinners, French bistro meals, casual weeknight celebrations, thoughtful wine gifts

Specs

Grape Varieties

Gamay

Style

Red

Price Range

¥5,000–8,000

Terroir & Winemaking

100% Gamay Noir from old vines on the Côte du Py in Villié-Morgon — the volcanic basalt hill that gives Morgon its distinctive terroir. No added sulfur, native yeast fermentation, whole-cluster maceration, aged in old barrels. The icon of the natural wine movement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Marcel Lapierre considered the father of the natural wine movement?

In the early 1980s, Marcel Lapierre, together with mentor Jules Chauvet, began making Morgon without sulfur dioxide and with minimal intervention — at a time when this was revolutionary and commercially risky. His wines inspired a generation of winemakers in Beaujolais and beyond.

What does Marcel Lapierre Morgon taste like?

Pure, vibrant, and alive. Expect dark cherry, pomegranate, violet, and earthy volcanic minerality from the Côte du Py basalt. The texture is silky-smooth with bright acidity and a long, mineral finish.

What is Morgon and how is it different from regular Beaujolais?

Morgon is one of the ten Beaujolais crus — the village-level appellations that produce Beaujolais' most serious, age-worthy wines. The Côte du Py in Morgon has unique volcanic-basalt soils that give the wine an earthy, mineral depth unmatched in the region.

Should I serve Marcel Lapierre Morgon chilled?

Yes — 14–15°C is ideal, slightly cooler than a typical red. This is standard practice with Beaujolais crus. Slightly chilling brings out the wine's freshness, red fruit, and aromatic clarity.