Spotlight on Beaujolais
Beaujolais “Griottes” Pierre-Marie Chermette – 2023 $17.96
Consistently producing some of the best vintages in the Beaujolais over the past two decades, Pierre Chermette and his wife Martine are easily some of my favorite winemakers working today. Ahead of their time as far as applying organic, natural, and biodynamic winemaking practices, their vines have natural low yields of extremely high-quality, ripe Gamay fruit. The wine is violet-blue in color and slightly cloudy in the glass, with aromas of fresh berries and wet earth. It’s rich and fresh on the palate with fresh fruit and a great mix of minerals and acidity. Widely versatile with food or simply on its own, serve with a slight chill. – Nima Ansari, Spirits Buyer
Beaujolais Rosé Griottes, Pierre-Marie Chermette – 2023 $19.96
It’s funny that you don’t often find rosés coming from Beaujolais. You’ll be glad that you found this sleeper by the Chermette family. Aromas of red strawberries and raspberries prepare you for a simple pleasure. The soft dense texture gives a great mouthfeel. Red berry preserves, coconut water, and shortbread show on the palate. Pick up a bottle and don’t be surprised if you want to take it everywhere you dine outdoors. – Chung Park, Astor Wines & Spirits Consultant
Beaujolais Lantignié, Ch. du Basty – 2023 $21.96
Look closely at the label of this bottle. It says Beaujolais, then the village name Lantingnié. So this is a Beaujolais Villages, but from the specific village of Lantingnié. Why is this important, you ask? Well, the Lantingnié Villages Gamay grapes are prized for their deep color and depth of flavor. The Gamay grapes for this Beaujolais Lantingnié were grown on a south-facing granite slope, and the wine was made in the classic Beaujolais way: whole bunch fermentation, carbonic maceration, natural yeasts. Ripe currant fruit on the nose hints at the full, ripe, and firm mouth feel. This is a wine with depth and soul that belies the price. Pair with a slight chill and your favorite meal. Enjoy! – Josh Mizrahi, Sales Manager
Beaujolais-Villages “La Roche”, Michel Tête – 2023 $21.96
The night I decided to bring this wine home I had fatigue from tasting different wines from different locales. I ended up returning to a region that has always been there for me. Domaine du Clos du Fief Beaujolais-Villages is a wine with a comforting nature. Ripe, fresh strawberries, raspberry cordial, tropical fruits, fresh violets, and roses balance notes of freshly-turned potting soil and wet rock. Vivid freshness and firm, approachable tannins leave this wine ready to be drunk young or, incredibly for a Villages level, prepared to lay down for a few years. This bottling shows versatility when paired with food. – Matt Goodyear, Astor Wines & Sales Consultant
Brouilly “Pisse-Vieille”, Dom. Bertrand – 2022 $29.96
Beaujolais is often misrepresented by its nouveau options in the market, and while still heavily fruit driven, the character of Gamay wines can grow even deeper with age and time in barrel. The “Pisse-Vielle” is grown in a mixed soil of schist, granite, and clay, and aged a year in oak after maceration is complete. Bursting notes of raspberry and redcurrant followed by the clean minerality of the terroir showcase the deeper expression of the varietal and leaves you wondering what more it has to offer. Pair with a charcuterie board, grilled white meats, or heck even just as an easy going nightcap! – Benjamin Wright-Hoyt, Astor Wines & Sales Consultant
Moulin-à-Vent, Philippe Pacalet – 2022 $94.96
Over the years I’ve tasted a lot of wines from Philippe Pacalet. Not only have I never been disappointed (not an easy feat with any producer, let alone one from Burgundy), but each time I come away with renewed awe. From Beaujolais to Beaune, his cuvées are all a masterclass in making exquisitely pristine wines. I could easily ‘staff pick’ any one of his bottlings, but if you’re new to the lineup, the easiest intro is his Moulin-à-Vent. As the nephew of Marcel Lapierre, Pacalet’s deft touch with gamay is clearly in his blood. Beautiful aromas of dark fruit and violets give way to a structured wine with bright red fruit, raspberry and cherry tinged with granite and licorice. Much like his uncle’s Morgon, this is a Beaujolais with backbone, capable of aging, but is still oh so enjoyable now. – Amy Miller, Sales Manager