Gamay

Two gamays, similar price but wildly different levels of quality. The Deboeuf was really thin, even for a gamay. No nose to speak of, very high acidity.

The village is a also in fact a Deboeuf under the Chateau des Vierries label. Couldn't be more different. Some pencil lead like nose with ripe (baked?) raspberry. High acidity but in a balanced way that seemed really refreshing to me. £10.50 LaVino. 

Domaine de Florianne Fleurie 2009

All is forgiven! It may be the several glasses of pinot noir I had prior to tasting it but this gamay seems to have improved massively since last time (approx a year ago?). Clean, dry back cherry fruity, underpinned by a dry, faint peppery finish. Light, supple and refreshing. Everything I'd want from a Cru Beaujolais in this price bracket.

What does this tell us? Beaujolais from this vintage benefits from extended aging? Or is it just the context I drank it in. Luckily there are 2 bottles left for further experimentation.

Christmas wines, part 1

The Morgon was part of the contraband case. The Montus was part of a in bond case. The later is still not ready. I shall leave the remainder for at least a couple of years if possible. Perhaps it was just the contrast with the Morgon but the tannins felt furry and somewhat ragged. The Morgon itself was much thinner than I'd expected, agreeable though.

Clos de la Roilette, Flurie, 2010

A birthday wine from MC. This forms the first 2010 cru Beaujolais out of the traps.
Very fine indeed. Has all the sappy juicy-ness I like in a Beaujolais but also a pleasing savoury edge. It's interesting that I often don't associate these wines with any obviously discernable fruit (appart from the occasional black cherry).
Very solid, well rounded wine that is great without overtly trying to be so.
I wonder where it came from?

Gamay, Vin de Pays des Gaules, Jacques Dépagneux, 2006

At £4.95 (WS) this is the best value red I have come across in years. Shades of Matt's find: Raisins Gaulois Lapierre 2009 but just under half the price. Both from 'declassified Beaujolais', suggesting this is worth more effort from the likes as Majestic etc? Real freshness to the fruit. Really lively. No hint of the two stage flavour that seems to there in the Cru's such as Thivin (no peppery/violet finish) but at this price ye cannae go wrong.

Coteaux du Lyonnais, Domaine des Hauts de Chasselay, 2008

2nd wine form the inaugural Wine Society order.

100% Gamay from a region that looks to be just east of Beaujolais. The overwhelming sentiment is one of incredible lightness. Pale red in colour and very faint fruit. The label has red currents on it and that can't be a coincidence. Just the faintest of edges to it that suggest Gamay. Feels almost like a rose. It comes in at £6.75 which probably rules it out for all bar al fresco drinking on a hot summers day.

Beaujolais Nouveau

I gather that this is rather late to enjoy 2009 Nouveau. According to Wikipedia, it's at it's best within 2-3 months of bottling.

The Duboeuf website tell us that 'Beaujolais Nouveau is a purple-pink wine that is particularly lightweight, even by the standards of Beaujolais.' Well, not this one by a long stretch. It's tastes very different from expected. Much darker (inky colour I associate with heavy stuff like Costieres de Nimes) and heavier (quite a robust, dry fruity flavour). Bizarre.

Interesting article in Slate about the perils of Noveau:

http://www.slate.com/id/2074387/

...although things may have improved since it was written in 2002.

Apparently Germany and the USA are the major recipients of exported Nouveau which may explain it's rarity on UK shelves.