16 Oct Not one of the usual suspects – Jadot Beaujolais-Villages
We typically review/feature “mainstream” wines…
those that you’ve heard of…since they’re the easiest
wines for you to find at your store and/or online.
We’re all familiar with the usual suspects: Chardonnay,
Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc.
But other wines…other grapes…also deserve attention.
One of those is Gamay, the predominant grape in a wine
that is accessible, affordable and, at least in the U.S.,
somewhat flies under the radar: Beaujolais-Villages.
It’s Wine Thursday!, our regular feature highlighting
a good wine that sells at a reasonable price and is easy to find
at retail and at online wine merchants.
The overwhelming majority of French red wines that make it here
to the U.S. are prohibitively expensive.
Check out virtually any bottle from Burgundy.
But we’ve found a French red that comes in
at less than 20 bucks…in some cases, much less…
is readily available and is quite pleasant.
Where it’s from
The picturesque, pastoral Beaujolais wine region is south of Burgundy
and north of Lyon in eastern France. Based in Beaune, the Louis Jadot winery
has been producing reds & whites in Burgundy and Beaujolais
for well over two centuries.
What it is
We must begin by telling you what Jadot’s Beaujolais-Villages is not.
It is not Beaujolais Nouveau, which is the wine made from Gamay
that is fermented for just a few weeks and is always released
on the 3rd Thursday in November.
Here’s the irony.
Beaujolais Nouveau attracts a good deal of attention…
even creating a degree of frenzy…when it’s released.
But Beaujolais-Villages is almost always the better wine of the two.
Since it is fermented longer and usually made with higher-quality grapes,
Beaujolais-Villages typically delivers more complexity and better structure.
Jadot’s 2022 Beaujolais-Villages is fruit-forward with
strawberry and tart cherry flavors highlighted
by a healthy degree of acidity. There’s nothing complex
or challenging here…just an agreeable medium-bodied red
that is notably food-friendly. Thanksgiving wine? You bet.
Keep this one in mind if you’re looking for an economical wine
that would work well with most everything on the Turkey Day table.
Where to buy it
Walmart lists this Beaujolais-Villages for $12.98.
It’s at Fred Meyer and Total Wine for $12.99.
BevMo’s price is $13.99. Albertsons has it for $16.99.
Safeway, Target and QFC list it at $17.99.
You can order it from Luekens for $10.49
https://www.luekensliquors.com
Universal Fine Wine’s online price is $11.48
Mission Fine Wine sells it for $11.95
It’s the same price at Midway Wine…$11.95
B-21’s price is $12.98