Everyday Excellence
Everyday Excellence
by Dustin Soiseth by Dustin Soiseth
Cru Beaujolais Sampler
Cru Beaujolais Sampler
A good Beaujolais, chilled down just a little, will serve you well in many situations.
France | Beaujolais
Normally $175.00 SPECIAL SAMPLER PRICE $140.00 (a 20% discount) |
This item does not take further discounts
I love Beaujolais for the following reasons: balance, versatility, and value. I call these qualities the Three Pillars of Beaujolais. Wines from this region can be exuberantly fruity, but in the best examples, the fruitiness is always complemented by an equal measure of earthiness and acidity, which, for me, maintains balance. Fruity without being cloying, substantial without being heavy, and above all, refreshing. Guy Breton’s elegant Régnié has this balance, as does the charming Juliénas from Valentin Montanet at La Soeur Cadette. It’s a beautiful thing.
Thanks to its light to medium body, Beaujolais is a versatile partner with all kinds of different cuisines. This is handy because, let’s face it, sometimes you want wine with dinner but dinner wasn’t necessarily chosen with wine in mind. I’ve paired Nicole Chanrion’s classic Côte-de-Brouilly will all manner of things—sushi, Thai, carnitas tacos— and it comes through every time. I switch to the Thévenet Morgon if the food’s a bit richer. A good Beaujolais, chilled down just a little, will serve you well in many situations.
Lastly, the value of Beaujolais is hard to beat. Jean-Paul Thévenet and Guy Breton are legends in the region, yet their wines still sell for under forty bucks. Diochon’s Moulin-à-Vent and Château Thivin’s Brouilly—benchmarks for their respective appellations—go for even less. And they’re delicious to boot! Wines of comparable stature from Burgundy or Bordeaux would easily cost twice as much—and would not pair nearly as well with tacos.
2017 Régnié • Guy Breton $32.00
2017 Moulin-à-Vent “Vieilles Vignes” • Bernard Diochon $26.00
2018 Morgon • Jean-Paul et Charly Thévenet $37.00
2017 Côte-de-Brouilly • Nicole Chanrion $23.00
2018 Brouilly “Reverdon” • Château Thivin $26.00
2017 Juliénas • La Soeur Cadette $31.00
A good Beaujolais, chilled down just a little, will serve you well in many situations.
Normally $175.00 SPECIAL SAMPLER PRICE $140.00 (a 20% discount) |