Our Biggest Beaujolais Bargain EVER
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Beaujolais and Spring, like Muscadet and oysters, a perfect match. A few chilled bottles at a back yard BBQ is living life to its fullest. These lighter, ethereal reds pair wonderfully with warm breezes and all types of grilled foods.
But beyond its seemingly simple pleasures, there is something about Beaujolais' versatility and fascinating range that make it quite Burgundian.
Today, I have chosen 6 current (and longtime) shop favorites for a dynamic exploration of a region too often painted with broad stroke characterizations. Industrial Beaujolais Nouveau is a thing of the past, it's time to discover the deeper, more refined side to this fascinating place.
TODAY ONLY, pease enjoy 5% off any three bottles or 10% off all six. |
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Antoine Sunier, Morgon 2021 $32.99
Julien Sunier’s younger brother and disciple of Jean-Claude Lapalu, Antoine has been making organically farmed, low sulfur Cru Beaujolais since 2014. His Morgon is a great display of how far he’s come in such a short amount of time. This cuvée comes from 60-year-old vines grown on the granitic soils in the Cru village of Morgon and aged in used Burgundian oak barrels.
A beautiful and more serious style of Beaujolais. Full of plush red fruits, gentle spice notes and earthy florals, this has that classic Morgon structure and tannic grip to pair beautifully with burgers, or even go a few years in the cellar.
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Dupré-Goujon ‘La Démarrante’ Côte de Brouilly 2021 $29.99
Located in the heart of Beaujolais, Domaine Dupré-Goujon is a collaboration between childhood friends Guillaume Goujon and Sebastien Dupré. Agro-ecological practices in the vineyard and meticulous work in the cellar allow the pair to offer a range of wines across its 16ha in the Cru of Côte de Brouilly. ‘La Démarrante’, literally 'the starter', is just that – an excellent entrée to the wonders of Cru Beaujolais. Aged exclusively in concrete in order to retain freshness of fruit.
A refreshing, juicy, and fun Beaujolais, it’s bursting of ripe red cherry, sweet spices, and peony. Serve with a chill and some saucisson sec.
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Domaine Chapel ‘Charbonnières’ Fleurie 2021 $43.99
Based in Régniė, David Chapel and Michele Smith-Chapel met while studying under Beaujolais legend Marcel Lapierre. This wine is their only foray into Fleurie and is a slightly more serious and structured bottle. From 60-year-old vines in the high-altitude, organically-farmed vineyard of Charbonnières, the grapes are hand harvested, fermented with native yeasts and aged in large, old French oak barrels.
A beautiful and elegant Gamay. Aromas of fresh-picked raspberry and Mediterranean herbs with a rose petal floral lift you’d expect from great Fleurie. Silky tannins and a serious mineral core make this a spot-on pairing for roast chicken.
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Domaine des Chopins, Beaujolais-Villages 2021 $34.99
Germain Santailler is one of the youngest, most talented vignerons around. He learned everything from Jean-Claude Lapalu, one of the Beaujolais' pioneers. His father passed away in 2020 and at the age of only 19 he took over the family’s seven hectares. 2021 is his very first vintage. Biodynamically farmed grapes are fermented with native yeast and age for 5 months in large, old oak before bottling.
This is a complex, graceful style of Beaujolais displaying rich, lush dark fruits and firm tannins. There is wonderful elegance and litheness on the palate to balance the bold fruit profile. A terrific new winery to keep your eye on.
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Georges Descombes, Régnié 2019 $32.99
Georges Descombes is the son of a Beaujolais vigneron who found his inspiration for his own label in the legendary wines of legend Marcel Lapierre. Considered the unofficial fifth member of the legendary "Gang of Four" of top-flight Beaujolais revolutionaries, his wines are of the highest repute. Traditional winemaking: semi-carbonic, whole-cluster fermentation in concrete tanks followed by élevage in large barrels.
Unashamedly fruit-forward and built for pure drinking pleasure, this juicy, silky, yet sophisticated cru Beaujolais delivers layers of elegant and exuberant Gamay fruit. A bottle to chill down and drink on a warm summer evening. If you like your Gamay bright and brimming with fruit, this Régnié is for you.
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Damien Coquelet 'Kes Ki Dit' Beaujolais 2020 $29.99
As the stepson of the aforementioned star vigneron Georges Decombes, Coquelet has been working vineyards and cellar under his stepdad's guidance since the age of 10. He bottled his first harvest in 2007 at the age of 20. The organically farmed grapes undergo whole-cluster, semi-carbonic fermentation followed aging in concrete before bottling.
Just a joyful wine! A deep bright red color in the glass. Aromas of raspberry and strawberry with violet and blood orange notes. The palate's ripe, sappy red and black fruits are lifted by citrusy acidity and earthy textures. Precise and incredibly well made. Serve this with a slight chill for sunny day quaffing and fried artichokes with aioli.
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To order, click the link above, reply directly to this email or call me at 843.576.4845
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Justin Coleman
Proprietor
Monarch Wine Merchants |
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