Thanks to different growing conditions and winemaking practices, vintners in the Beaujolais region can produce a diverse range of red wines from the gamay grape each vintage. Bottles labelled under the Beaujolais or Beaujolais-Villages appellations are often lighter and deliciously refreshing in style, which makes them ideal choices during the summer months.
There is also increasing interest in the region’s 10 cru appellations, the region’s best quality sites, such as Brouilly, Morgon and Moulin-à-Vent, that produce more serious and age-worthy wines.
The fashion for young and fruity red wines from the region is shifting toward more harmonious and focused examples. As a result, there’s less emphasis on the carbonic maceration winemaking technique. The practice sees whole bunches of grapes loaded into fermentation tanks that are blanketed with carbon dioxide to promote the intracellular fermentation and creates wines with pronounced fruity aromas (banana, bubble gum, cinnamon hearts) and lower tannin.
Semi-carbonic fermentation or conventional red wine fermentation are more common today, resulting in reds with more depth, harmony and complexity than the simple styles that defined Beaujolais a decade ago. Here are four selections that showcase the dynamic selection available.
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Albert Bichot Selection Parcellaire 2022 (France), $19.95
Made in a juicy and bright style, this dry red shows red fruit (cherry and raspberry) flavours with some earthy and peppery notes. The short finish shows earthy and slightly bitter notes that suggest this is best enjoyed with a meal. Drink now-2025. Available at the above price in Ontario, $23.19 in New Brunswick, $22.99 in Nova Scotia.
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Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Villages 2022 (France), $20.95
This widely available red wine offers an appealingly bright and sweet fruit character (ripe raspberry, candied cherry) with a firm texture. The dry and peppery finish adds refreshment, which makes this enjoyable on its own or with food. Drink now-2026. Available at the above price in Ontario, $25.99 in Manitoba, $16.80 in Quebec (2021 vintage), $34.99 in New Brunswick, $20.45 in Nova Scotia, $35.99 in Prince Edward Island, $24.53 in Newfoundland.
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Louis Jadot Combe Aux Jacques Beaujolais-Villages 2023 (France), $23.95
This popular label isn’t notably aromatic, but really delivers on the palate. The faint earthy aromas give way to nicely focused and appealing juicy red fruit (red currant, cherry) flavours. This offers a fresh and bright style, with harmony and charm. Drink now-2029. Available at the above price in Ontario, $29.99 in British Columbia ($26.99 until Aug. 31), various prices in Alberta, $28.99 in Saskatchewan, $28.99 in Manitoba ($25.99 until Aug. 31) , $23.60 in Quebec (2021 vintage), $31.78 in Nova Scotia.
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Laurent Perrachon & Fils Julienas 2021 (France), $21.95
A step up in complexity and concentration, this comes from a sixth-generation family producer based in Julienas. The aromas and flavours suggest a mix of ripe red fruit (cherry, raspberry) with floral and earthy accents. The texture is smooth, with fine tannins that provide structure and potential to develop with bottle age. Drink now-2030. Available in Ontario.