Uncork this now! Is there a more delicious summer red?
"The combination of deliciously sweet, small, thick-skinned berries - displaying a perfect balance of sugar and acidity and extremely low yields has winemakers and producers anticipating that 2009 will be one of the greatest vintages Beaujolais has ever known." -The New York Times
One of the best producers in Beaujolais is Domaine Cheysson. Parker has even selected it in his "World's Best Wine Values under $25 (of course this is way under $25):
"This lip-smacking yet thought-provoking revelation of quality for its appellation features ripe fresh red raspberries accented by orange zest, white pepper, nut oils, and mineral notes." -R Parker
Remember, this is cru Beaujolais - nothing to do with Beaujolais Nouveau or even just Beaujolais. Cru Beaujolais is a far more serious and structured wine.
There are 10 villages in Beaujolais that are allowed to put their names on the labels because of their superior terroir. These wines are the cru Beaujolais. You may have heard of some of these special villages: Moulin-a-Vent, Brouilly, St Amour, Julienas, Fleurie, Regnie, Cote de Brouilly, Chenas, Morgan, and Chiroubles.
Beaujolais is south of Macon and north of Lyon. The land is rolling with small houses planted into the hillsides surrounded by vines. The roads are twisty and the sun is usually always shining.
Beaujolais is 100% Gamay. Gamay is an ancient grape type and grown in lots of places, but it finds its most pure and delicious expression in Beaujolais and there is little argument about that.
Domaine Cheysson is a 36 hectare estate on one of the highest points in Beaujolais. It is considered one of the best sources for Chiroubles and I can certainly testify to that as evidenced by the small mountain of cardboard cartons I have cleaned out over the years.
This is wine you absolutely have to have this summer. Not that I cut back on my Chiroubles drinking during the colder months - no, I do not, but there is just something so appealing about that slope-shouldered bottle sweating on my table in the summer's heat with its pungent, cherry/raspberry and cassis flavors. It is utterly gouleyant (gulpable) as the French say. Cynthia Hurley
