Beaujolais

If you prefer a lighter-bodied red of invariably excellent quality, this is the region to explore. Beaujolais suffers a little from its undeserved reputation for weedy Beaujolais Nouveau 'celebrated' on a chilly Thursday in November! 

We regard Beaujolais Nouveau, renowned as the ‘first wine of the new vintage’, as a much better wine these days, while the rest of the region is definitely on a roll. The outstanding 2009 vintage set everything off and pretty much every vintage since has delivered magnificent wines. What is exciting is the subtle differences you will find between the wines, yet the quality of the soft, gorgeous favours of well-made Gamay has never been better. From humble AOC Beaujolais through Beaujolais-Villages to the firmer, almost Burgundian feel of some of the Beaujolais ‘cru’ wines, there are many very classy, approachable, fruity wines to be sampled. Some keep well too, with Chénas, Juliénas and Fleurie all drinking well into their third year while Moulin-à-Vent and Morgon often need time to even start to show their full potential. Saint-Amour, Brouilly, Côte de Brouilly and Regnié produce delicious, earlier drinking wines and high-up Chiroubles some of the finest.