Very impressed by these six Beaujolais wines from the 2010 vintage.
2009 in Beaujolais was highly praised as a miracle vintage. The wines were fabulous. And it looks as if 2010 might be just as good, or perhaps even better. These wines were part of a major offer by The Wine Society, and are the constituents in a mixed case. My favourite was the Morgan from Jean-Marc Burgaud, which is the only one that doesn’t seem to be available by the single bottle, although it is listed in stock as a magnum.
Jean-Marc Burgaud Morgon Cote du Py 2010 Beaujolais
Deep coloured. Vibrant, fresh, structured and spicy with grippy blackberry and black cherry fruit as well as some raspberry freshness. Distinctive mineral/stony character, too. Lively and invigorating, this is a youthful, tannic wine that needs some time to develop. 92/100 (£12.50)
Chateau de Beauregard Fleurie ‘Poncie’ 2010 Beaujolais
Fruity and quite elegant with bright cherry fruit backed by good acidity. Joyful, but with a hint of seriousness and some minerally, grainy structure. May age well. 89/100 (£12.95)
George Duboeuf Chateau de Nervers Brouilly 2010 Beaujolais
Lively, fresh and bright with cherry and plum fruit and a sappy green edge. Ripe but very fresh with a tiny hint of bubblegum. Juicy and focused with good acidity. 87/100 (£9.95)
Chateau Bonnet Chenas Vieilles Vignes 2010 Beaujolais
Fresh and a bit peppery with lively cherry fruit. Supple, elegant and fruity with some grip on the finish. Quite mineral. 90/100 (£9.50)
Chateau Thivin Cote de Brouilly ‘Les Sept Vignes’ 2010 Beaujolais
Fresh, vivid, meaty and bloody, with brooding black cherry and blackberry fruit. Lovely presence on the palate with spice and meat notes adding savoury complexity to the fruit. Some northern Rhone-like character here. 91/100 (£12.50)
Chateau de Beauregard Moulin a Vent Clos des Perelles 2010 Beaujolais
Fresh, mineral and quite elegant with ripe cherry and plum fruit. Good structure, supported by a bit of new oak. Tight and well structured, this needs some time, but an elegant Burgundy lookalike may well emerge after a few years in bottle. 89/100 (£14.95)
