Burgundy’s Affordable Gem
Tasting Thursday this week features gamay. Gamay is the grape behind Beaujolais (boh-zhuh-lay), and for those of you who are new here, it’s my favorite everyday wine. It’s a smooth, light, and delicious red wine, and you can find a great bottle for under $30 and a solid bottle for $10-$15. Sign me up!
She’s versatile. She’s food-friendly. Bojo pairs perfectly with turkey, making it an excellent choice for Thanksgiving. She could also be described as a patio guzzler, but we don’t know anything about that…
Beaujolais is definitely the most well-known gamay and where about 75% of gamay wines are produced globally. It’s located in the southern part of the Burgundy region of France and is a wine you should usually drink young. As far as quality, the top are categorized into 10 crus, then you have Beaujolais Villages, followed by Beaujolais, and lastly Beaujolais Nouveau, a young wine to celebrate the end of harvest in November.
What to expect:
Medium-light body, low tannin, medium plus acid, medium alcohol
Intense fruit – cherry, raspberry, candied strawberry; florals – violets, iris, peony; earth; juicy
Expressive of the terroir
2019 Jean-Marc Burgaud Les Vignes de Lantignié Beaujolais Villages
Can be served slightly chilled. Pale purple. Candied strawberry, blackberry, potting soil, chalk, smoky. Smooth and nicely balanced. Easy drinkability. Blink and it’ll be gone.
2017 Château des Jacques Morgon
I can already notice the difference on the nose. Pale ruby. Ripe cherry, mushroom, forest floor, smoky. More body, tannins, and complexity and drier. Could still age some but delicious. This is one of the top crus of Beaujolais for only $28 – another reason they are such a fave.
You’ll often see both Louis-Jadot and Georges DuBoeuf Beaujolais and/or Beaujolais Villages. Don’t be afraid of their ubiquity and grab one if you liked these, especially today’s Beaujolais Villages. Comment below with your fave of today’s wines and if anything surprised you with these 2!