Welcome to Beaujolais, France. Beaujolais is a place where the Gamay and Chardonnay grapes are true royalty. With 12 total appellations (and where 10 are Crus) this unique area provides a diversity of styles, textures and flavours that any wine enthusiast will adore.
A UNESCO Global Geopark, this lovable wine region is situated between Burgundy to the north and the Rhône Valley to the south spanning approximately 13,500 hectares. A wine lovers paradise this region is loved by many wine enthusiasts. It is here where the bottles are so #Gamayzing you will always be impressed.
Fun fact: Also infamously known to non-wine experts alike, for it’s iconic participation in “Olivia Pope’s” wine nights, in the show Scandal.
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Editor’s Picks: These are 6 wines of the week, our editor is loving right now, available in Ontario
Domaine de Boischampt Beaujolais Villages Blanc 2020
1 If you’re a chardonnay lover this is a bottle you must try! Matured in barrels for 12 months this gorgeous chardonnay has notes of citrus and light spice. The palate is well balanced and pure with a delightful finish. The Domaine de Boischampt has entered its conversion to certified organic farming. Vineyards grow on beautiful hilly landscapes and this rare elegant wine will be a welcomed bottle on any wine enthusiasts table or in their cellar. $27.95 available in Ontario direct from Ranger Wine Imports.
Chateau de la Chaize Brouilly 2019
2 This single vineyards Cuvée is from Brouilly, Beaujolais’s largest and southernmost cru. The historic Chateau de la Chaize dates back to 1676. Today, the domaine’s vineyards are in conversion to organics with a plan to get to carbon-neutral and zero-waste production in the near future. This wine is made from 65 year old vines on average and is aged in 100% in large wooden vats with 10% whole cluster fermentation and fermented with indigenous yeasts. Filled with lovely aromas of purple flowers (both fresh and dried) light spice and dark berries, this is a Gamay that will surely impress any lover of fine wines. $29.95, available from Nicholas Pearce Wines.
Miss Vicky O Joie Fleurie 2020
3 Just say yes to wine in a can! Especially this incredible Gamay! This bottle puts the zing into #Gamayzing! With crunchy red fruit and freshness on the palate it is made from 65 year old vines and aged in concrete tank for 1 year. Canned, this upbeat version of Beaujolais is just awesome and offer sustainability and convenience for a wine best enjoyed when young and fresh. Fleurie produces the most delicate and elegant of the Beaujolais crus and this juice is best served slightly chilled and paired with sunshine and casual conversation. $8.50 per 250mL can, available from Corkscrew Imports.
Loron Julienas Domaine de la Vieille Eglise 2020
4 Sourced from vineyards that are 30 years old, Maison Jean Loron has been making wine since 1711 and is one of the oldest and largest vineyard owners in the south of Burgundy. In 2016, the reins were handed from Xavier Barbet, an eighth generation Loron, to Philippe Bardet, originally from Beaujolais and a great connoisseur of Burgundy. All the vineyard and estates of Maison Jean Loron were certified High Environmental Value, level 3 and the Maison has also taken steps to convert more than 30 ha of vines to organic farming. This Gamay from the Julienas AOC cru is a well-structured, simply delightful and one that any wine enthusiast will appreciate! $40.15, available from The Vine Agency.
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Château Juliénas Chateau des Capitans 2019
5 Made from vines that are over 50 years old, this wine is a real stunner. 20% of the wine is aged for 8 months in new French oak, with the rest in stainless steel giving this wine supple berry fruit, a strong structure on the palate and the ability to age. A wonderful pairing with holiday lamb shank, braised meats and a roaring fire. This 18th-century castle is situated right in the heart of the AOC Cru Juliénas, in a locality knows as Les Capitans. Centuries-old cedar trees in the stately gardens stand as tall sentinels of a long, illustrious past. The remarkably old vines form one single, undivided vineyard circling the estate and benefitfrom optimal soil and microclimate conditions. A definite must try! Available in the LCBO Vintages section for $23.95.
Domaine Nicole & Romain Chanrion Côte de Brouilly 2018
6 Discover the ‘wow’ factor in the Côte de Brouilly with Domaine Nicole and Romain Chanrion. This 2018 vintage wine is from a mother and son team who are the current custodians of the Chanrion estate which has been in production at the foot of Mont Brouilly since 1861 and has been handed down through eight generations. The average age of the vines is over 60 years (with some plots over 100 years old). After studying at the Lycée Viticole de Beaune and an internship in California’s Napa Valley, Nicole returned to her roots in the Beaujolais region when she took over the family’s 5-hectare estate in 1979, including 3.5 hectares in Côte de Brouilly. She was one of the first women to become a wine-grower and to manage an estate and she also worked in the profession by becoming president of the Côte de Brouilly appellation. A fine force for Beaujolais, this wine is Certified Terra Vitis and HVE (for sustainable development and respect for the environment). This wine spends 10 months in oak casks to soften the tannins and is simply divine on the palate with silky tannins and fresh berry fruit. A great pairing with a charcuterie board and wine conversation. $29.00, available from Burgundy Direct.
Editor's Note: Ranked in no particular of priority.
