La Madone (Fleurie Climat)

La Madone occupies the highest ground in the Fleurie appellation, with vineyards climbing the south- and southeast-facing flanks of a hill capped by the chapel of La Madone. The chapel was built in 1870 as an ex-voto: Fleurie's winegrowers promised the Madonna they would build a sanctuary if the Prussian advance during the Franco-Prussian War failed to reach their village. The Prussians never arrived, and the growers kept their promise. The chapel sits atop a granite summit completely planted with Gamay and has become the visual symbol of the Fleurie cru, visible across the broader Beaujolais. The climat itself rises to roughly 425 meters at its main slope, with summit parcels reaching toward 500 meters.

• South- and southeast-facing flanks of a granite hill
• Chapel of La Madone built in 1870 as an ex-voto vs. the Prussian advance
• Vines climb to the chapel; main slopes at approximately 425 meters
• Summit parcels reach toward 500 meters; the visual symbol of Fleurie

La Madone sits on the pink granite (granite monzonitique à orthose et biotite) that defines the Fleurie cru, locally called 'granite de Fleurie'. The active topsoil ranges from 50 centimeters to one meter deep, composed of sand from the weathering of the granite parent rock. The combination of altitude, sandy granite, and southerly exposure produces a cooler-leaning microclimate within Fleurie, encouraging slow ripening that preserves aromatic character and bright acidity. The well-drained nature of the granite arène makes the climat especially resilient in cooler, wetter vintages.

• Pink granite (granite de Fleurie); active topsoil 50 cm to 1 meter deep
• Sandy soil from granite weathering (arènes)
• Cooler-leaning microclimate from altitude; preserves aromatic character
• Free-draining substrate resilient in cool vintages

La Madone produces what most readers think of when they hear 'Fleurie': perfumed, floral, elegant Gamay with silky tannins and a clear granitic mineral lift. The aromatic profile leans on violet, iris, rose, and red fruit (cherry, raspberry, strawberry), with the altitude preserving brightness through the harvest. The wines are approachable young but reward 4 to 8 years of cellaring in strong vintages, developing additional layers of mineral and savory complexity while keeping their floral character. La Madone is the textbook reference for the cru's nickname, the Queen of Beaujolais.

• Textbook Fleurie: perfumed, floral, elegant
• Violet, iris, rose; red cherry, raspberry, strawberry
• Silky tannins; bright acidity preserved by altitude
• Cellars 4 to 8 years in strong vintages, building mineral complexity

La Madone draws an unusually broad roster of Beaujolais and Burgundy producers, partly because of the climat's iconic status. Domaine de la Madone, based at the foot of the chapel, is the namesake estate. Château de Fleurie, La Maison Jean Loron, Albert Bichot, and the négoce house of Georges Duboeuf all produce Fleurie La Madone bottlings. Château de la Chaize includes a 'Lieu-dit La Madone' cuvée, and Pierre Dupond and Domaine de Boischampt are among the smaller producers working parcels in the climat. The breadth of names reflects La Madone's central role in Fleurie's identity.