BEAUJOLAIS 2007 MORGON GUY BRETON WINE ADVOCATE 90 POINTS - "Breton’s 2008 was still in malo when I tasted it, but his 2007 Morgon gave an intense aromatic display of distilled berries and herbs tinged with black pepper. Cherry and raspberry, licorice and iodine, and alkaline and saline mineral notes make for a medicinal though not at all viscous or heavy overall impression. This clings beautifully, leaving the palate refreshed and mineral-saturated almost as if it were white wine. Breton suggests it’s a vintage for early drinking, and I won’t pretend to correct him, but would suggest 2-3 years, if one’s cellar is cold (all of these wines are bottled low-sulfur)."
DOMAINE TERRES DOREES 2008 BEAUJOLAIS "CUVÉE ANCIEN-VV" WINE ADVOCATE 90 POINTS - "High-toned cherry, kirsch distillate and cherry pit all typical of Gamay on Southern Beaujolais’s chalk-clay soils mark the nose of Brun’s 2008 Beaujolais L’Ancien Vieilles Vignes. A pure, bright, refreshing palate suffused with suggestions of chalk and salt and with its cyanic bitterness invigoratingly woven into its carpet of bright fruit, this finishes with riveting purity and rapier intensity, if not complexity. This will be worth following for at least 2-3 years. The 2005 – which I tasted again side by side the 2008 – is superb now."
BEAUJOLAIS 2008 "TRADITION-VV" DOMAINE VISSOUX (PIERRE CHERMETTE) WINE ADVOCATE 90 POINTS - "Chermette’s 2007 Beaujolais Vieilles Vignes Cuvee Traditionelle reflects more rigorously than his (likewise unfiltered) “Pierre Chermette” cuvee the selection of top-quality fruit and vinification without chaptalization or yeasting and with a minimum of added sulfur. Surprisingly dark in color for a wine so light in body (at 11.5% alcohol) this displays pure red berry and cassis fruit, sweet floral notes, citrus rind pungency, saline minerality, and a kinetic inner intensity that will leave your palate refreshed and invigorated. There is also a darker, woodsy undertone here, which will emerge interestingly as this Beaujolais – which currently acts the white wine want-to-be – matures. Enjoy letting this wine demonstrate to you its versatility over the coming 18-24 months."
One of the best straight Beaujolais we’ve ever tasted!
BEAUJOLAIS BLANC 2008 DOMAINE DES TERRES DOREES JEAN-PAUL BRUN WINE ADVOCATE 91 POINTS - "The Terres Dorees 2008 Beaujolais Blanc Chardonnay smells of lime, oregano, diverse flowers, white peach, and an apparent amalgam of chalk dust and sea breeze. With a formidable sense of underlying density and mysterious minerality, allied to luscious, vivacious peach and lime fruit, it displays a fine sense of richness – while remaining, at 12% alcohol, quite light – and finishes with irresistible juiciness and savor, reminiscent of Chenin Blanc or Riesling in its shimmering interchange of fruit and mineral. One can relish it anytime over the next several years, although it would be a shame to miss out on its youthful state."
MORGON 2008 "COTE PY" JEAN FOILLARD
Grown in what is considered one of the top granite soils in the region, all hand-harvested and vinified Burgundian style in barrel (no industrial yeasts) with little to no sulfur and bottled unfiltered. While it would be correct to call this a Beaujolais, it is more closely aligned with a light & fragrant Burgundy. A little murky, but beautiful garnet color. Aromatics of cherry, strawberry, violets, earth and spice. On palate, raspberry, cherry, currant and plum - some spice, a homeopathic dose of funk and a whole lot of character.
BEAUJOLAIS VILLAGES 2007 DROUHIN
On the palate, it has a silky smoothness, and its delicious fruit lingers for a long time. Beaujolais Villages is very versatile with all kinds of food, especially simple and flavourful dishes such as hors-d'oeuvre, charcuterie and white meats.
BROUILLY 2008 THIVIN BEAUJOLAIS WINE ADVOCATE 88 POINTS -Thivin’s 2008 Brouilly had already been assembled when I tasted it, and displayed mouth-watering strawberry fruit tinged with salt and a delicacy, vivacity, and lift bound to bring a smile to the face of all but the most curmudgeonly wine snob. Enjoy it over the next 18-24 months.
DOMAINE BRAVES 2009 REGNIE BEAUJOLAIS LA TIMES WINE OF THE WEEK JUNE 24TH 2010
"By all accounts, 2009 is a stupendous year for Beaujolais. Not for the nouveau sort, but for the Beaujolais village and cru wines that are made to hold up for more than a season. Domaine des Braves "Regnie" from Paul Cinquin is among the first of the 2009s to show up on the shelves, and it is flat-out delicious. Tasting of lush, dark berries, it shows an exquisite balance of ripeness to acidity and has a wonderful, velvety texture. It's impossible to drink just one glass."
DOMAINE CHAPELLE DES BOIS 2007 FLEURIE "CRU des BEAUJOLAIS
Made from 100% Gamay Noir a jus Blanc, from vines averaging 40 year old, planted on granitic soils, this wine underwent traditional fermentation and semi-carbonic "cuvaison" for 10-15 days in order to extract the voluptuous fruit and feminine profile authentic to Fleurie. Drinkable now and expressing bright aromas of red fruit, it offers charming cherry aromas with intense stony minerality, and some blueberry notes. Enjoy it with earthy dishes: game, birds, veal stew, and rack of lamb.
JADOT 2009 BEAUJOLIAS VILLAGE
Strong red purple colour. Fresh red fruits on the nose with a hint of dark cherry. Slightly spicy with a touch of grey pepper, liquorice and a touch of rose flower. The whole wine is very well balanced with a nice acidity and the tannins presence on the finish invites food pairing such as with Terrines, Charcuteries, Grilled red meat, white fish, cheese or simply as the sole wine of a meal.
JULIENAS 2007 "CUVEE ESPECIALE" PASCAL GRANGER
Located in Julienas, a village in the northern Beaujolais, this domain emphasizes old-vine fruit (45 to 90 years of age) in its wines. They are generally crisp and elegant wines with lively fruit character and silky texture.
