Cru Beaujolais: A Far Cry from Beaujolais Nouveau!
If your impression of Beaujolais is that super light fruity wine called Beaujolais Nouveau that comes out in November right around Thanksgiving, you are really missing out on what Beaujolais has to offer. Cru Beaujolais is often compared to Pinot Noir from Burgundy, and they are neighbors in the region. And, for many years, Cru Beaujolais was considered to be on par with Burgundy. So what happened? A bunch of crappy Beaujolais Nouveau flooded the market, and really hurt the reputation of Beaujolais. But, it is making a comeback! Made from the grape Gamay, Beaujolais is a medium bodied red that can be chilled, and is often called a bistro wine, meaning it is fantastic with casual meals. Cru Beaujolais comes from 10 specific villages in France, and each has its own AOC and flavor profile, and we may even have a mnemonic device to help you remember them because sometimes the labels just mention the village, not Beaujolais. Look, if you don’t know Gamay or Beaujolais, the first thing you need to do is listen to this episode and learn more, and then you need to buy some Cru Beaujolais and find out for yourself. Wines reviewed in this episode: 2023 Domaine Gilles Coperet Morgon, 2024 Moulin-a-Vent Cru Beaujolais Les Michelons
