The Queen of Beaujolais

The Queen of Beaujolais.
I’d like to be her friend, wouldn’t you?

If you’re feeling like you’ve heard the word “Beaujolais” a lot lately, it’s time to talk about a really good Beaujolais. The Beaujolais Nouveau that’s getting so much recent attention is always released on the third Thursday of the month in France. It’s exported in massive amounts to the U.S. and Asia. An enormous marketing stunt, that I’ve written about before, Beaujolais Nouveau Day has done a great job of familiarizing foreigners with French wines from the Beaujolais region. But, it’s also given Beaujolais a reputation for being cheap, young, crappy wine.

The wine you’re looking at here is a Beaujolais, but not a Beaujolais Nouveau. It’s from Fleurie, which is part of the Beaujolais region. (Beaujolais is just south of Burgundy.) Red wines here are made with Gamay grapes. The red wines from Fleurie are so elegant and feminine that they’ve earned the title “Queen of Beaujolais.”

Fleurie wines are light, fruity, floral, and silky. They don’t need to be served with a big meal, and are lovely with appetizers, snacks, and cheeseboards. Fleurie is a light enough red that you could pair it with fish, if you prefer red wines over white. It would be great with a vegetarian meal, but can also hold its own with a roast chicken.

This 2022 Fleurie from Julien Sunier is all of the above and smells like raspberries, red currants, and cherries, with a hint of barnyard or animal, some powdery rose, and a touch of white pepper. It’s fresh and light with really delicate tannins and the smoothest finish. If you could describe a wine as a classy lady, this would be it.

For just $27 a bottle, recommended by the good folks at Caves de Louvre in Paris, this is indeed the bargain Queen of Beaujolais.