Yvon Metras

To speak of Yvon Métras is to speak of one of the great wine growers in Europe. One One of our great pleasures is being able to visit him and eat, drink and chat with him and his son Jules (by the way, a lover of Spain).

He is one of the gang of five pioneering natural winegrowers in the Beaujolais (along with Thevenet, Lapierre, Foillard and Guy Breton), he counts Jules Chauvet, Pierre Overnoy as his inspirations.

Yvon Métras is recognized as one of the best producers in the region, if not the best, having the highest recognition in the region.

Its production is very scarce, it cultivates just under 6 hectares of vines, lthe old farm has 35 hectares of land. When he bought it, it was not a land of wine, but had been abandoned after the war and was unorganized.

Before, he had lived in Moulin-à-Vent, then in Fleurie, but he comments that he has found his final destination.

In 1850, the winery had about 400 hectares, with 30-50 hectares planted with vines. Métras is trying to recover polyculture on his farm and, to begin with, he now raises sheep, which roam the vineyards in winter.

Overall, Yvon says he has 5.5 hectares of vineyards and his son Jules Metras, who started in 2014, has 3 hectares.

They are meticulously grown by hand, organically. It was in 1988 when he made his first natural wine. At that time it was experimental and he did not sell the bottles made this way, he drank them. The first commercial sulphite-free wine made by Métras was the 1994 vintage.

Now we will comment a little about some of their wines:

Yvon Métras Beaujolais:

This is from a vineyard 500 m in Fleurie, but the authorities removed the plot of the cross because it was too high, when we asked the reason, it was very Yvon, because they are idiots !!!

It is very fresh and juicy with a lovely approach. Fine-grained and flexible. So elegant and ethereal with a nice flavor of crisp red cherries and some fine herbs. This still has some CO2 from the fermentation, which it likes to keep to protect the wine.

Yvon Métras Fleurie:

SO2 was not added, nose of red fruits very perfumed, open and aromatic, showing sweet cherries with notes of herbs and spices. Smooth and elegant with a beautiful purity under the fruit. Very fine and elegant with delicacy and purity. Yvon's mentor Pierre Overnoy has taught Yvon Métras the importance of giving wine its time. Yvon lists him as the most important living person in natural wine.

Yvon Métras Fleurie 'Les Printemps':

This is their young cuvée, it has a fine, aromatic, expressive nose with some sweetness and subtle herbaceous notes. On the palate it is fresh and concentrated with sweet raspberries and cherries. Very expressive, bright and fine. Raspberries and soft cherries. Very vital !!!

For our part, eager for you to taste their wines, available on our website.