Weekday evenings are reserved for the Beaujolais cru. As I make my way around France ahead of my French Wine Scholar exam, I have seemed to take particular fascination in the Beajolais cru. Which offers both mystery and value in equal measure it seems.
Perhaps criminally in the UK, it seems impossible to find the obscurer Beaujolais cru at your local supermarkets – which tend to parade Beaujolais Nouveau, Superior and two of the largest crus – Morgon and Brouilly.
This may be why The Wine Society offers so much excitement and opportunity when it comes to showcasing the lesser known of the 10 Beaujolais crus which represent areas of higher quality wines. These wines from the 10 crus are more structured, providing a unique framework for the Gamay grape to show its true potential. Despite their seeming anonymity, the 10 Beaujolais cru regions represent 40% of the region’s total production. Moreover, while the majority of these wines will be made from the regional Gamay grape – there is potential to allow for up to 15% Aligoté, Chardonnay and even Melon into the blend. Although, these are rare.
Tonight, we move into the centre of the Beaujolais cru, Régnié AOC. This is the youngest of the Beaujolais crus, only being awarded its AOC (Appellation d’Origine Controlée) in 1988. Régnié terroir is particularly marked by a higher percentage of sand – a soil in which generally offers good drainage and better heat retention/reflection throughout the day.
In my glass tonight, I’m having a Domaine de la Plaigne, Régnié 2020. In general, this region is thought of as being of medium body and this wine reflects just that. With a typical mouthfeel, this red wine is both medium tannin and alcohol too. While its mediocrity is inoffensive, it lacks some of the fresh fruit that’s typical of even the Beaujolais cru. On the palette, there’s some muted raspberry and red cherry, a hint of tart black plum too – not quite ripe. That being said, where it lacks in fruit, it makes up for in spice, with a particular penchant for black pepper and cinnamon.
Enjoy this wine with a lightly spiced tikka rice, or anything that has cinnamon at the forefront.
Buy from: The Wine Society (£10.95)
