Beaujolais Wines
Beaujolais is sometimes thought of as part of Burgundy, because so many of the Burgundy wine companies have expanded their reach to include wines from the Beaujolais wine region. But Beaujolais wines deserve to stand apart, not least because they are made from an entirely different grape — Gamay. Grown on the region’s granite slopes, the Gamay imparts a fresh, directly fruity yet mineral character to the wines, best reflected in our Beaujolais wine reviews.
At the highest quality level, the Beaujolais wine region contains 10 crus — communes that have the right to wear their own appellations on the label: Brouilly, Chénas, Côte de Brouilly, Chiroubles, Fleurie, Juliénas, Morgon, Moulin-à-Vent, Régnie Reviews and St-Amour. One-step below is Beaujolais Villages, with Beaujolais itself as the broadest, most generic appellation. Our Beaujolais wine guide contains hundreds of Beaujolais wine ratings.
Domaine Cheysson 2006 La Precieuse Vieilles Vignes Gamay (Chiroubles)
- Editors' Choice
The wine comes from a parcel on the steep slopes of Chiroubles called Les Roches, appropriately enough with its very stony soil. It is a gorgeous, ripe wine, with light toast over the black fruits, ripe plums, cherries. The tannins are now soft, but still give weight to the rich, velvet texture of the sumptuous fruits.
— R.V.
(11/1/2009)
Domaine Louis-Claude Desvignes 2007 Côte du Py Gamay (Morgon)
A wonderful confection of strawberry jelly and black plum juice, powered by firm tannins. There is acidity, but this wine—from one of the finest vineyard slopes in Beaujolais—is full of life as well as richness.
— R.V.
(11/1/2009)
Domaine Louis-Claude Desvignes 2006 Côte du Py Gamay (Morgon)
Big, bold and round, profiting from a good vintage and showing richness. It is certainly full-bodied, but there is a definite structure here, dark tannins over rich plums, delivering spice and a firm, almost stony texture from the soil.
— R.V.
(11/1/2009)
Marcel Lapierre 2007 Vieilles Vignes Gamay (Morgon)
Bottled unfiltered, this shows extravagant fruit, very rich, black cherry in character, with tannins that veer between serious structured concentration and balanced with the fruit. The texture is sweet, the fruit deliciously ripe, showing good concentration as well as an exuberant play between acidity and fruit.
— R.V.
(11/1/2009)
Château des Jacques 2006 Château des Lumières Côte du Py Gamay (Morgon)
- Cellar Selection
- $30
Full, almost meaty-textured wine, with dense tannins and black plum skin flavors that go with the black raisin sweetness and spice and a smoky finish. It is firm, concentrated, but never losing sight of a charm and immediate attractiveness. However, the tannins certainly promise aging.
— R.V.
(11/1/2009)
Jean-Marc Burgaud 2008 Côte de Py Vieilles Vignes Gamay (Morgon)
- Cellar Selection
From some of the finest slopes of Morgon comes this intense and concentrated wine. It is big, beefy, full of black fruits, with an edge of cranberry tannin and dark cherries. The texture is as dense as the fruit, making this a certain candidate for aging.
— R.V.
(11/1/2009)
Georges Duboeuf 2008 Domaine des Quatre Vents Gamay (Fleurie)
- $17
Opulent and generous, this is one of Duboeuf’s most charming wines. That is not to say it doesn’t have structure balanced with the layers of red fruits, but it is the richness allied to a velvet texture that makes it so attractive. Give the acidity six months to calm down, and the wine will be ready.
— R.V.
(11/1/2009)
Georges Duboeuf 2008 Belles Grives Gamay (Morgon)
- Online Exclusive
On the tannic side of Gamay, this could be young Pinot Noir in its mineral structure and solid texture. It is a wine for aging with its black plum and spice flavors, with the acidity lighting up the aftertaste.
— R.V.
(8/1/2010)
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