WineLovers Discussion Group

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/26/france-wine-beaujolais-idUSL5E8KQ4NJ20120926

While I don't think anyone will be any worse off with less Beaujolais Nouveau in the market this year, this doesn't bode well either for Cru Beaujolais.

There's mixed news there. If it is correct, as the article states, that the wines will be more concentrated and therefore better (the latter doesn't necessarily follow, IMO), that is positive. On the other hand, if the low volumes mean that some producers will be bankrupt, that is a negative develop if it affects promising youngsters.

Tim York wrote:There's mixed news there. If it is correct, as the article states, that the wines will be more concentrated and therefore better (the latter doesn't necessarily follow, IMO), that is positive. On the other hand, if the low volumes mean that some producers will be bankrupt, that is a negative develop if it affects promising youngsters.

Agreed. I just hope the jump in price isn't so significant as to take away the affordability of great Cru Beaujolais. We have such great success selling Morgon and Moulin-a-Vent, as Burgundies of comparable quality can be 2-3 times the cost.

Joy Lindholm wrote:

Tim York wrote:There's mixed news there. If it is correct, as the article states, that the wines will be more concentrated and therefore better (the latter doesn't necessarily follow, IMO), that is positive. On the other hand, if the low volumes mean that some producers will be bankrupt, that is a negative develop if it affects promising youngsters.

Agreed. I just hope the jump in price isn't so significant as to take away the affordability of great Cru Beaujolais. We have such great success selling Morgon and Moulin-a-Vent, as Burgundies of comparable quality can be 2-3 times the cost.

Joy,
This brings to mind a question. Morgon and M-a-V are the two crus producing the most ageworthy wines. If I were buying Gamay wines to serve in the near term, I'd be looking to Chiroubles, Fleurie (some), Brouilly and the better non-Cru Beaujolais (Chermette, Brun, Lapierre's Raisins Gauloises). Do you think that your patrons would not be as willing to buy those "lesser" Crus? Just curious.

Mark Lipton

Mark Lipton wrote:Joy,
This brings to mind a question. Morgon and M-a-V are the two crus producing the most ageworthy wines. If I were buying Gamay wines to serve in the near term, I'd be looking to Chiroubles, Fleurie (some), Brouilly and the better non-Cru Beaujolais (Chermette, Brun, Lapierre's Raisins Gauloises). Do you think that your patrons would not be as willing to buy those "lesser" Crus? Just curious.

Mark Lipton

Absolutely, but from what is currently available here we have found two offerings of these crus that stand out. Our list is less than 100 labels, so we have to narrow down quite a bit.

Interesting article, Joy, thanks for posting.

Joy,
I'm a novice about Beaujolais. When I looked up Morgon I found three: Georges Duboeuf Morgon Descombes, Georges Duboeuf Morgon Domaine de la Chaponne and Georges Duboeuf Morgon Flower Label Cru Du Beaujolais. Were you referring to one of them?

Dan

Dan Smothergill wrote:Joy,
I'm a novice about Beaujolais. When I looked up Morgon I found three: Georges Duboeuf Morgon Descombes, Georges Duboeuf Morgon Domaine de la Chaponne and Georges Duboeuf Morgon Flower Label Cru Du Beaujolais. Were you referring to one of them?

Dan

Dan,
I am referring to small grower-producer Beaujolais, rather than négociant (someone buying grapes from many growers and selling them under their own label) based Beaujolais. Georges Duboeuf, Louis Jadot, and Joseph Drouhin are three of the most well known négociant in Beaujolais and Burgundy. The Morgon I was referring to is made by Jean-Paul Thévenet. Here is a link to the importer, Kermit Lynch's site, where you can find other great cru Beaujolais: http://kermitlynch.com/our_wines/jean-paul-thvenet/.

Cheers,
Joy

Kermit Lynch is money in the bank!

James Roscoe wrote:Kermit Lynch is money in the bank!

C'mon, at least some of his wines are cheap and cheerful.