Cru Beaujolais is the best. We've been saying so since before we even opened Flatiron Wines. Jeff wrote a great Guide to the 10 Crus to explain why, way back in the days before Morgon was every somm's go to Burgundy alternative. 

That Guide has become our most popular blog series (as well as an internet superstar, linked by the likes of the NY Times). But a lot has happened since then: new vintages, new producers, new trends. So Jeff took a little time and updated the series.  

There are a lot of new producers. Thanks to relatively low-cost vineyards, brilliant young winemakers (some from Beaujolais, some from much further afield) have been able to move in and start farming amazing plots. U.S. importers are paying more attention than ever, so American shoppers and diners are seeing more interesting options on wine store shelves and wine lists. It's an exciting time to be a Beaujolais lover! If you aren’t one yet, hop on in! The wine is flowing! 

I’ve linked below to our updated guide. This blog will give you an overview of the region and the hot, hot, hot “cru beaujolais” wines. But, it will also give you a chance to explore each of the 10 crus in depth! Ever wondered why that Moulin-a-Vent has a bit more structure, or why Fleurie is called “Fleurie”? We cover it all. 

Luckily, we’re writing this right before Thanksgiving! This is the perfect week for Beaujolais! Below are some of our favorite wines so you can drink your way through this tour of our darling region. 

Better yet, you can drink your way through the region at discounted prices. All Beaujolais is 17% off this weekend, and if you buy a case you'll get the 10% case discount on top of that!  

Read the Guide.

Shop our Favorites:

• Michel Tete, Julienas Cuvee Tradition Domaine du Clos du Fief, 2018
• Tete is the master of Julienas, and his wines are some of the best values in the shop. In true Beaujolais fashion, this shows vibrant, juicy fruit up front, but there's a nice, subtle grip of stony tannins on the finish.
• Chateau Thivin, Cote de Brouilly "Cuvee Zaccharie", 2018
• An age-worthy masterpiece from a magnificent vintage.
• Grosse Pierre, Chiroubles, 2018
• If there was a best newcomer award--this Beaujolais would get it. 
• Diochon, Moulin-a-Vent Vieille Vignes, 2018
• Our favorite for when you want a little more structure to go with dinner. 
• Billards (Barbet), Saint-Amour, 2018
• This wine is so pretty, so vividly cherry-red, and so damn delicious now that you might think this wine can't age. But you'd be wrong! It can last a decade no problem. Grab a few for the cellar if you've got one. A killer wine.

Shop by Cru: 

• Moulin-a-Vent 

• Moulin-a-Vent is considered the sturdiest, most tannic, longest-lived among the 10 Crus of Beaujolais. When you hear about folks opening up delicious bottles of 50-year old Beaujolais, it’s usually Moulin-a-Vent. But remember, we are still talking about Gamay. The wine is never that tannic, and most examples are still very approachable when they’re young, unless the vintage is a particularly structured one.

• Morgon

• Morgon is home to an extraordinary range of excellent producers. The wines typically have a firm minerality, thanks chiefly to its granitic soils, and a fruit profile that shades towards orange.

• Fleurie

• “Fleur,” of course, means “flower” in French, and indeed the wines of Fleurie are characterized by a distinct floral note – think violets.

• Brouilly & Cote de Brouilly

• Brouilly produces fun, light, fruity juice for drinking young, often out of a jug at a simple bistro in Paris.

• Côte de Brouilly produces a structured, elegant, often more serious style of wine.

• Regnie

• In the vineyard, Régnié is distinguished by its pink granite soils. In the mouth, it seems to have a slightly spicier profile than the other Crus.

• Julienas

• Juliénas is a cru known to be a little sturdier than the others and so can be aged. The wine’s signature profile is deep red cherries, which transform with a few years of bottle age into nuanced flavors that veer towards cassis.

• Chenas

• Chénas produces a tender wine that can age surprisingly well. You do not see it around much, as very few fine examples of this Cru Beaujolais are imported to the U.S.

• Chiroubles

• Chiroubles sits at the highest altitude of the ten Beaujolais crus, typically leading to a lighter bodied, more delicate style of wine.

• Saint Amour

• St. Amour is the most northerly of the 10 Crus of Beaujolais, bordering the Mâcon region of Burgundy. At its best, St. Amour is an intensely red-fruited wine, bearing a bit of a resemblance to its much more expensive cousin to the north, Les Amoureuses.