Wine Flights: Beaujolais

Beaujolais is the light-bodied red wine made in the central-eastern French region of the same name. These wine are made exclusively from the Gamay grape, and typically described as bring packed with vibrant cherry and berry flavors. Currently the 2009 vintage is abundant on the store shelves and critics claims it to be one of the best vintage in a decade! Though typically the wine is meant to be drank young, the Beaujolais crus can actually be aged for many years.

This weekend I had the pleasure of tasting my way through 5 of  the total 10 crus each with a surprising different style and flavors. Here's a quicky guide of the 10 published by Wine Enthusiast Magazine ranging from the lightest to the most age worthy with additional tasting notes for the ones I've tried :

Regnie: The newest and softest of the crus with light tannins. Good to drink young as aging is only appropriate for 1-3 years. (My least favorite of the 5 as it was extremely light in bodied with an acidic finish. Fruity flavors were hard to pick up and did not linger)

Brouilly: The largest & most southerly of the crus, with fruity aroma. The wine can be aged for 1-4 years. (A medium bodied wine with a hint of sweetness. The flavor was well rounded and finished off dry. Much more enjoyable than the other 3.)

Chiroubles: The highest of the cru villages at an elevation of 1,200 feet, producing the coolest of e crus in character. Age-able for 2-5 years.

Cote de Brouilly: A small appellation in the heart of the Brouilly appellation, on the slopes of Mount Brouilly. Good to age for 1-5 years,

Chenas: The least known of all the crus due to their small production. Good to age for 1-6 years.

Fleurie: Among the most expensive of the Beaujolais crus, age-able for 2-6 years. (The wine is dry with tannins that is dense and tight. All in all an easy wine to drink but not impressive)

Saint-Amour: From the village at the north of Beaujolais, said to be named after Roman solider. The wine can be aged from 1-5 years.

Julienas: Powerful wines come from this northern cru village. Their dense texture is what sets these wines apart from other crus. Good to age for 2-5 years.

Moulin-a-Vent,: These wines are intense and tannic when young. They have all the Gamay fruitiness and can be aged 2-8 years. (My second least favorite of the night, though the cherry aroma was pretty distinct. Again the wine was acidic and unbalanced.)

Morgon: The big Beaujolais, as it hails some of the finest vineyards sites of all the crus. These wine are also the heaviest in tannins able to be aged for 10 years. (By far my favorite of the night. The aroma consisted of sweet and buttery caramel.  It is well balanced and finishes off very smooth.  An absolute delight to drink.)