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Gamay All Day: Top 10 Cru Beaujolais to Buy Now

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The 10 crus of Beaujolais are in the north of the region where the granite soils boarder on the southern reaches of Burgundy. All are made entirely from the purple-hued Gamay grape.

To generalize, these red wines are moderately structured, but always with a backbone and edge of tannins to hold together all the delicious cherry fruitiness that is associated with the variety. From there, the differences between the crus are numerous and the various expressions of Gamay are worth the discovery.

Starting with the lightest of the crus—Régnié and Brouilly—these make wines that bring out tons of fruit and freshness. The more familiar is of the two might be Brouilly as it’s the larger region of the two and can be more commonly found in the U.S. market.

In terms of structure, these appellations are followed by Chiroubles and Saint-Amour. Chiroubles boasts the vineyards in elevation of the 10 crus. It produces wines that are ultrafresh and feather-light in tannins. As these wines mature, they quickly acquire a velvety texture. Saint-Amour, the closest to Burgundy, is a cru that brings incredible depth to Gamay’s bright cherry fruit.

Continuing up the weight scale are Chénas and Côte de Brouilly. Chénas is a long, thin appellation, surrounding hills and forests, and makes wines that balance great fruitiness with a firm framing of by tannins. Côte de Brouilly, on the slopes of Mount Brouilly, an extinct volcano, is small but packed with some fine, serious producers.

Juliénas and Fleurie continue up the scale in terms of weight and concentration. Juliénas is where Beaujolais cherry flavors really come into their own. Bold flavors and generous tannins underly this fruit, so that we have wines with structure and ageability. Fleurie is home to many top producers who benefit from great slopes and rich, concentrated wines.

By general consensus, at the top of the weight scale are Moulin-à-Vent and Morgon. There is no village in Moulin-à-Vent, just a windmill and vines. This appellation produces the most elegant, long-lived wines in Beaujolais, aided by some impressive producers. Many regard Moulin-à-Vent as the king, but for my money Morgon is the emperor. Again, the concentration of fine producers and some great vineyards (Côte du Py is a major source of fine wines) gives us some of the wines of Beaujolais that can last almost as long as many fine red Burgundy.

Here are 10 wines to taste through the Beaujolais crus.

Bottle of Château de Javernand Beaujolais
Photo courtesy Vivino

Château de Javernand 2020 Vieilles Vignes (Chiroubles); $25, Buy on Vivino. From the estate’s oldest vines, this wine is concentrated while keeping freshness and a light structure… SEE SCORE AND FULL REVIEW

Bottle of Château Thivin Beaujolais
Photo courtesy Vivino

Château Thivin 2020 Zaccharie (Côte de Brouilly); $58, Buy on Vivino. The top wine from this estate, this draws much of its texture from the volcanic soil of Mount Brouilly… SEE SCORE AND FULL REVIEW

Bottle of Domaines Dominique Piron 2020 Côte du Py Beaujolais
Photo courtesy Vivino

Domaines Dominique Piron 2020 Côte du Py (Morgon); $29, Buy on Vivino. This structured wine from vines planted on the volcanic soil of the Côte de Py slope is young but already impressive… SEE SCORE AND FULL REVIEW

Bottle of Domaine de Colette Beaujolais
Photo courtesy Vivino

Domaine de Colette 2020 Vieilles Vignes (Régnié); $19, Buy on Vivino. From 70-year old vines, this is a concentrated, smoothly textured wine… SEE SCORE AND FULL REVIEW 

Bottle of Domaine du Clos du Fief Beaujolais
Photo courtesy Vivino

Domaine du Clos du Fief 2020 Tradition (Juliénas); $20, Buy on Vivino. This ripe, juicy wine offers full blueberry fruits… SEE SCORE AND FULL REVIEW

Bottle of Domaine Richard Rottiers Beaujolais
Photo courtesy Vivino

Domaine Richard Rottiers 2020 Champ de Cour (Moulin-à-Vent); $40, Buy on Vivino. From one of the top vineyards in Moulin-à-Vent, this wine is rich in black fruits and has a powerful structure… SEE SCORE AND FULL REVIEW

Bottle of Jean Loron 2020 Château de Fleurie Beaujolais
Photo courtesy Vivino

Jean Loron 2020 Château de Fleurie (Fleurie); $20, Buy on Vivino. The 60-acre estate covers two top sectors of Fleurie, La Madone and Le Point du Jour… SEE SCORE AND FULL REVIEW

Bottle of Pascal Aufranc Beaujolais
Photo courtesy Vivino

Pascal Aufranc 2020 Vignes de 1939 (Chénas); $20, Buy on Vivino. This perfumed wine is produced from vines planted in 1939… SEE SCORE AND FULL REVIEW

Bottle of Pascal Berthier Beaujolais
Photo courtesy Vivino

Pascal Berthier 2020 Esprit de Seduction (Saint-Amour); $22, Buy on Vivino. Playing on the name of the appellation, this wine is a blend from two separate vineyards… SEE SCORE AND FULL REVIEW

Bottle of Robert Perroud Beaujolais
Photo courtesy Vivino

Robert Perroud 2020 L’Enfer des Balloquets (Brouilly); $20, Buy on Vivino. Fifty-year-old vines planted on granite give a wine with good concentration… SEE SCORE AND FULL REVIEW