Beaujolais is perhaps most famous for its festival "Beaujolais Nouveau or Primeur", and for being the first wine released every year, 9 weeks after harvest, on the third Thursday of November. These wines are portrayed as young, unpretentious, good and simple with the intent to be consumed in copious quantities before New Year’s day which Is then considered too old!
Sometimes referred to as "lollipop" wines with its trademark aromas of bubble gum and bananas, these wine producers have employed for centuries an alternative method of fermentation which yields lighter, easy drinking styles of reds with no tannins, and that can take a chill. Perfect for hot summer days!
Burgundy is a collective of 5 districts, Beaujolais being one of them, its vineyards date back to 957 A.D. The historical context of Burgundy and a common employment of just a few grape varieties render this region unique.
Beaujolais' 10 crus produce the world's greatest wines made with the Gamay grape, and they are age worthy. Moulin-à-Vent (named after an ancient windmill in the middle of the vineyard) is perhaps the most famous and regarded as the finest of the crus. While the town of Pisse-Vieille (meaning pee old lady) is notorious for the old folklore story that gave it its name.
The wines from the crus are full bodied, they are made in the traditional Burgundian style, and as part of the AOC rules (the governing body of wine quality standards in France), grapes must be hand-picked.
Beaujolais' wines are fun and should be used to profile a greater awareness as an option to attract new wine drinkers, including those unable to drink red wines due to tannins.
I suggest:
Domaine Serol Turbullent
La Cuvée du Chat 2023
Sebastien Besson IP
Morgon 2019, Organic
Chenas 2021, Organic
