Alexandre Burgaud is the cousin of Jean-Marc Burgaud with whom he worked from 2013 to 2017. Alexandre started his own domaine with old vines in the village of Lantignié (alongside the Cru Regnie) that had been in his family. He began making just one Beaujolais Village in a traditional Beaujolais style. 

A new ruling for Lantignié - taking it a step closer to Cru status - means a proportion of Alex’s vines have been reclassified Beaujolais-Villages. He’s supplemented this with fruit from newly acquired parcels around the village of Le Molard, which doubled the size of his holdings to twelve hectares. Alex’s is an exemplary Beaujolais-Villages, made the traditional way, using semi-carbonic maceration and neutral (stainless steel) vessels. The grapes are not destemmed. They are aged in very cold cellars. Expect lifted aromas of violets and red berries, lashings of juicy fruit on the palate, and a long, mineral finish – a nod to the protrusions of blue granite throughout Alex’s vineyards.

His Beaujolais-Lantignié is now made exclusively from his oldest and best-sited vines (some 120 years of age), primarily on blue granite similar to that found on the Côte du Py (where Alex’s cousin Jean-Marc works his magic). It’s vinified in similar fashion to the Beaujolais-Villages but with a slightly longer maceration, producing a more complex, concentrated wine, with an enchanting, lifted nose, reminiscent of a particularly fine Fleurie. Frankly, this puts most Cru Beaujolais in the shade, and fully endorses Lantignié’s fledgling bid for Cru status. 

Alexandre currently has:

Beaujolais Villages Nouveau: 4.5 hectares. Average vine age 45 years

Beaujolais Villages: 1 hectare. Average vine age 50 years

Beaujolais Lantignie: 5 hectares. Average vine age 60 years

Beaujolais Lantignie La Colline de Chermieux (formerly known as Pur Cent): 0.3 hectares. Average vine age 120 years!

Brouilly: 1 hectare. Average vine age 70 years

Alexandre Burgaud is spoken of as a superstar of the future. Virgin Wines (yes, part of that group) states “Alex is a producer to watch. His exemplary Beaujolais Lantignié is as good as any fine Fleurie!”

William Kelley of the Wine Advocate says “I identified this 12-hectare domaine, founded in 2013, as one to watch in my last Beaujolais report, and this more extensive tasting confirmed Alexandre Burgaud's talents. Winemaking here is traditional—which means vinification with whole bunches in concrete, followed by élevage in used wood. Fleshy and flavorful, with the substance to age but plenty of near-term appeal, these are nicely made wines which come recommended.”