Celebrate Beaujolais with these four top picks
Beaujolais, just north of Lyon, is famed for its juicy, fruit-forward style and it has been a perennial favourite with wine sippers the world over. Celebrate this historical region with my top four picks.
Like vineyards throughout the northern hemisphere autumn brings the harvest. Winemakers begin the elaboration of wines, and the grape vines start to "close down" until awaking from their slumber the following springtime. Learn all about the region in our Guide to Beaujolais.
Many areas follow a tried and tested method suited to the time of harvesting and the tradition attached.
A Little History
Delving deep into its history I find that the first young wine - made to celebrate the finished vintage - was sipped by the vignerons who then sold barrels to the bistros and cafes in Lyon and Paris. Known as vin de primeur it was eagerly awaited and served cool from litre pitchers with hearty local cuisine.
Fast forward to the late 20th Century.
In 1970, after imbibing plentiful amounts of wine over dinner, writers Clement Freud and Joseph Berkmann challenged one another to get Beaujolais Nouveau from France to London in the fastest time. The idea was grasped by Allan Hall, wine writer on The Sunday Times, a couple of years later when he threw down the gauntlet to "bring back the Beaujolais".
This race quickly increased in populairty and created a massive hullabaloo over the next twenty or so years, with personal wacky-races to get the stuff back as quickly as possible after the release date.
Albeit this practice has waned a tad the expectation certainly hasn’t with breakfasts, lunches and dinners still being organised with charities enjoying the benefits.
Different Styles
But the region is about more than just nouveau.
There are the 10 cru villages, permitted to make only red wine, these are:
- Brouilly
- Chiroubles
- Chenas
- Cote de Brouilly
- Fleurie
- Julienas
- Moulin-a-Vent
- Morgon
- Regnie
- Saint Amour
Next come the lesser AOC Beaujolais and AOC Beaujolais-Villages appelations (which are both allowed to produce red, white and rosé). There are a host of styles, textures and tastes offered from the north to the south of the region.
I have recently tasted a raft of these wines are readily available and drinking perfectly for your first party of the autumn.
Famille Descombe "Pierres Dorées" Beaujolais Blanc 2022
£17.55
The Pierres Dorées, or golden stones, region of Beaujolais is a special place due to the bedrock of golden limestone (hence the name). The building...… read more
Racy Chardonnay Beaujolais Blanc needs to be recognised as a quality terroir-driven white wine of note. Subtle, elegant restrained fruit with a distinct mineral and textural body. A superb under the radar style that is growing in popularity. This example comes from the Pierre Doreés sub-appellation (translated to golden stones) which is a limestone rich area reminiscent of Tuscany. You'd be forgiven for thinking this was from further north in the Cote d'Or!
Domaine de Mont Joly Cuvée 85.45, Beaujolais-Villages 2019
£31.50
This wine is made in very small quantities, using the best grapes, from the oldest vines (between 75 and 100 years old) in the village...… read more
Spectacular and dominant. Deep-coloured village wine from Blacé, showing a heady-scented body of ripe dark fruit. If you're expecting a light and fruity wine, this is not it. Winemaker Jean Baptiste Bechvillier has created a full-bodied, concentrated, and rich style from vines which are over 100 years old. Slightly earthy with an oak integration allowing more aging to take place. Cellar this wine for five years to see how this evolves and improves.
Clos du Vieux Bourg "Au Bois Retour" Chénas 2020, Beaujolais
£16.65
Chénas was the favourite wine of Louis XIII, king of France. It is the rarest of the ten Beaujolais Crus with just 240 hectares under...… read more
Chénas is the smallest cru at just 250 hectares. This wine comes from thirteenth generation winemaker Dominque Piron at Clos du Vieux Bourg. The Chénas appellation produces wines of red/black-fruited elegance. Gloriously gluggable this is charming offering versatile sipping this autumn.
Domaine Bel Avenir Juliénas "Les Capitans" 2020, Beaujolais
£16.75
The appellation of Juliénas was born on 11 March 1938, but it's history stretches back much further. It is named for Julius Ceasar who mentioned...… read more
At a bargain price this mineral scented Gamay from the terroir of Julienas hits the spot with a fruit 'n' spice balance. A more classic style it’s a wow with Charcuterie.
If I have ignited a desire to discover more about this wonderful winemaking region, explore further with our broad selection of wines all selected from small, sustainable wineries, many of which are family owned and passed from generation to generation. Click here to discover our full selction of Beaujolais wines.
