The Wine
I love French Wine. Everything about it is interesting. The history of the monks who tended the vines and made the wine, the legend of the medieval knight who lived on the hill of Hermitage, the winemakers who participated in the resistance during World War II, and it goes on. The one thing that I don’t like about French wine is the price. If you’re lucky, you might find a decent red Burgundy for $30 if it’s on sale. But in general, whether red or white, it’s pricey.
There is an exception and that’s Beaujolais. Right now, Beaujolais is still affordable and the quality is just as good. Technically, it is a part of Burgundy, so the soil and climate are the same but there are a couple of differences. The grape is not Pinot Noir but Gamay and they use a fermentation method called Carbonic Maceration. Essentially, the grapes aren’t crushed right away and so they start to ferment internally for a period of time before they are crushed and fermentation is completed. It lends a slightly confectioned, cotton candy quality to the wine, which makes it unique and delicious.
The Louis Jadot Beaujolais-Villages 2019 has the confectioned quality but it is subtle. The smell and taste are of a candied cherry cordial and underripe strawberries that are balanced out with more earthy notes, like the smell when you are raking fall leaves or you open a sealed package of mushrooms. It also has the hint of black tea, which keeps the wine balanced. The wine is low acid and low tannin (that thing that makes your mouth dry out) and light in your mouth. It’s delicious and at $9.49 it is a steal for a wine from Burgundy.
How to Pair Beaujolais
For Beaujolais, I enjoy just drinking it when watching a movie but it is a flexible wine that goes with many dishes. This wine would be excellent with Thanksgiving dinner. It is light enough to not overpower the more delicate flavors of turkey and mashed potatoes but can hold up to the bolder flavors of gravy and vegetable side dishes. It’s a good all around wine when you have many flavors all at once and want one wine that goes with everything. It can also be used for occasions when you want to seem fancy and want to impress people with your wine selection but not spend a lot of money to do it. This wine is also an excellent choice for chicken and pork dishes, where the flavor of the meat is a little more subtle. I have also paired it with bratwurst and sauerkraut and it worked well. The sauerkraut brings more of the fruit and sweetness to your attention but still stands up to the flavors. The most surprising pairing would be with salmon. If you want a red wine with your fish, the cherry flavor goes really nicely with salmon.
Lois Jadot Beaujolais-Villages 2019 is an excellent introduction to the Burgundy region of France. The next time you watch Amelie or the series finale of Sex and the City, have a glass. The wine will transport you there and the mini-vacation will be the best way to end your day.