14.45 - Beaujolais: The French Wine Region You Thought You Knew+ 3 French playlists
In this FREE le Bulletin we're heading off to Beaujolais and we're going to immerse ourselves in tasting 10 crus Beaujolais... & while we taste, we have 3 playlists for you to listen to, to enjoy,
Bonjour friends… I’m thrilled that you’re here again this week - bienvenue !
What’s happening in MyFrenchLife Magazine - new articles.
Next, scroll down to a special treat… ‘Beaujolais: The French Wine Region You Thought You Knew’ tasting, listening, learning, and enjoying!
If you enjoy this edition, please note that every week there is another entirely different version of le bulletin exclusively for paying subscribers, and today that version is ‘14.45.a - Inspiring French Women - Part 2 and you have access to a free preview :) Look for it in your inbox (or here) where you can access a trial, a preview, or an upgrade to enjoy it fully!
Judy - 16.11.’24
1. Let’s explore & read the new articles in My FrenchLife Magazine
Did you know there are >3000 articles in MyFrenchLife Magazine, where savvy francophiles love to immerse themselves and indulge?
Thank you to all Contributors to our magazine. I love that your articles take us from one end of France to another and constantly remind us of the rich culture of this wonderful and diverse country.
Merci.
Judy.
Here are the most recently published articles:
Here is one feature article in Gastronomie:
→French Recipe: Fondant Potatoes with Duck Fat and Thyme←
by Ally Mitchell←
… Until now, potato has always been in the background, the chorus member lumbering along to the cancan. And yet, what a makeover they’ve had – no main dish will get a look in with fondant potatoes on the side. Finally, not only do potatoes have their spotlight but, for me at least, it’s the permission for my spring cooking to go back to basics. As long as there’s some duck fat on hand…”
↓ CLICK IMAGE & read all the new articles on MyFrenchLife Magazine ↓
2. Beaujolais: The French Wine Region, the wine, and three playlists
Beaujolais is one of the most familiar regions in France, but ironically, the wine it's most famous for is not even close to its best!
Beaujolais Nouveau, released on the third Thursday of November each year to great fanfare, is the splashiest wine of the region, but other expressions of Beaujolais are far more complex. Beaujolais is a French Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) wine generally made of the Gamay grape, which has a thin skin and is low in tannins.
As the famous Beaujolais Nouveau Day is fast approaching: 21 November 2024 it seemed appropriate to head to the Beaujolais wine region, south of Burgundy, home to fresh, fruit-driven red wines.
Gamay and Beaujolais Cru?
Beaujolais Cru according to Foodandwine.com:
Beaujolais is the classic growing region for the Gamay grape variety. Beaujolais offers a wide range of wine styles to choose from — tasting Beaujolais Nouveau and a great Beaujolais Cru side by side is a fascinating exercise — and often excellent value. Beaujolais Nouveau can typically be found for well under $20, and even a great producer's Beaujolais Cru represents excellent value: The best of them can be aged for years (sometimes a decade or more), and they tend to cost a fraction of their red-wine neighbors in Burgundy.”
Beaujolais also offers a wide range of food-pairing options. Because of the lack of aggressive tannins in Gamay, and the overall character of the red wines of Beaujolais, they tend to work well alongside everything from lighter meats to even fish. Beaujolais Cru, on the other hand, works well with slightly richer foods.”
Because of the differences among the 10 Beaujolais Crus, and their relative affordability, it's possible to taste how alterations in terroir, aspect, micro-climate, and more affect wines made from the same grape variety and in the same region. Doing so is the most delicious "research" imaginable.”
Une petite fête du Beaujolais Nouveau—3 playlists
Since 21 November is approaching, I’m organising a little French wine-tasting event/celebration with my neighbours. We’ll be tasting the “real Beaujolais” rather than the “Nouveau.”
The very kind Karen Bussen (friend and Contributor to MyfrenchLife Magazine) shared a playlist she prepared for me. I’m not sharing that with you. I know that you’ll enjoy it. And depending on where you live there are two versions. One for Summer and another for autumn.
#1 French summer
#2 French autumn
#3 Une petite fête du Beaujolais Nouveau
And here is another playlist option—a variation on the same theme.
I started with Karen’s “French Summer Soirée” playlist (above) then I added a few more vocals that would be recognised by my neighbours, and then I sprinkled throughout some French jazz, chill, and lounge non-vocal… ready for your listening, or your own little Beaujolais Nouveau fête.
Bon écoute. Happy listening.
What did you think of the playlists? Have you been enjoying them?
Please let Karen and me know
And now a special treat.
Karen Bussen, a regular contributor to MyFrenchLife Magazine is presenting a wonderful series for us about French wine.
Karen’s qualifications position her perfectly to help us better understand & appreciate French wine.
And with these qualifications, we can’t do better than to follow her lead: WSET level 3 in Wines & Spirits; French Wine Scholar (FWS). DALF C1 diplôme en langue française.
Because the focus is on Beaujolais…
Beaujolais: The French Wine Region You Thought You Knew←
by Karen Bussen←
Salut les fous de vin (Hello wine lovers),
This is not an article about Beaujolais Nouveau, the marketing phenom that took the world by purple storm several decades ago, when c’était la fête (it was party time) in restos and bars celebrating the “new wine” from one of France’s lesser-known regions that really needed a publicity boost.
Oui oui, Beaujolais Nouveau était la tendance pendant des années (it was a trend for years). Light, fruity, and cause for autumnal celebration. It is wine juice just weeks old. The French even changed the release date to coordinate with the American Thanksgiving holiday, and it’s true that Beaujolais Nouveau can be a lovely match for turkey and friends.
But if Beaujolais Nouveau has fallen a wee tad out of favor of late, tant mieux (all the better) because I’d like to introduce you to a more interesting and under-appreciated side of the Beaujolais region: Les Crus Beaujolais.
What I think of as the “Real Beaujolais” are wines of character and charm, beloved by other vignerons (winemakers) and wine insiders. If well-chosen, a cru Beaujolais can be a great gift to bring to a dinner party or to serve chez vous. These wines also generally represent excellent value as they are increasingly made in the style of their neighboring Bourgogne, but are not yet really understood by the mainstream.
Where Exactly Is the Beaujolais Region?
Climate-wise, it’s a semi-continental region with influences from mountains, rivers, and the Mediterranean Sea. The variety of soil types and growing conditions allow for a range of beautiful wines, 98% of which are made from the Gamay grape.
There are 12 appellations or AOPs (appélation d’origine protégée), which are designated wine-making areas within the Beaujolais, each with their own cahier de charges (rule book).
Within those 12 are the 10 crus Beaujolais, which we’ll discover below. The other two are the “non-crus” appellations of Beaujolais and Beaujolais Villages. The crus are known as the most prestigious wines in the region and are often thought of as close cousins of Burgundy wines but at a much friendlier price point.
Good to Know:
You can find the occasional white Beaujolais or Beaujolais Villages (and Beaujolais-produced chardonnay is often used in Crémant de Bourgogne). There is a growing amount of rosé being made in the area.
But the 10 crus Beaujolais are all du vin rouge (red wine) and red is what Beaujolais is most celebrated for.
What Are the 10 Crus Beaujolais?
How to Find a Good Beaujolais Cru…
Pour des vrais amateurs de vin (for real wine lovers) I always recommend being open to trying something new, so start up a conversation with your local caviste (wine seller) or sommelier.
But below I’ve put together some general notes and recommendations to help you find your favorite cru Beaujolais. (Do keep in mind that we’re simplifying here because each growing situation and each winemaker expresses a unique version of the terroir and the process).
As an overview, the gamay cépage (grape variety) is known for its floral notes (violets, iris) on the nose (more floral than its famous neighbor, Burgundian pinot noir) as well as for red fruits on the palette (think raspberry, strawberry, red currant, etc) and sometimes even a little pepper or spice. Depending upon where it’s grown and how the wine is made, you’ll find softer, more minerally expressions, or wines that are powerful with solid aging potential.
Cru Beaujolais Recommendations:
Lighter style
If you’re looking for a lighter style cru Beaujolais with finesse to have with an autumnal squash salad, a tarte aux figues (a fig tart), mushroom risotto, or a savory cake aux lardons, try the wines of Fleurie, Saint-Amour or Chiroubles.
Richer style
If you fancy a wine with more power and richness to serve with your magret de canard (duck breast), a cheesy tartiflette, a braised lamb shoulder, or your favorite truffled dish, jump right over to Moulin-à-Vent (known as the “King of the Crus Beaujolais” for its power and structure), or the marvelous Morgon, Juliénas or Brouilly:
And if you come across a bottle of this Régnié Vieilles Vignes from Georges Descombes (or really any other Reignié) just buy it because even in France, I rarely see this appellation—not sure why! It’s perfect for your next hearty picnic or Sunday lunch.
How to Pronounce French Wine Words: Beaujolais Edition! —listen to these audio files
If you’d like help with how to properly pronounce the 10 Crus Beaujolais—and other tips for wine words you can use to improve your French—check out the audio guides I’ve put together for you. When you really love French wine, it’s a fun exercise to enrich your vocabulary to capture the elements of what you’re tasting. Some examples:
Charnu (voluptuous)
Charpenté (structured)
Fruité (fruity)
Puissant (powerful)
Souple (supple)
Frais (fresh)
Et plus... and more...
If you're interested in learning more about French wine, take a look at the Painless Beginner's Guide series I've written for MyFrenchLife Magazine.
Bonne degustation less ami(e)s et bonne fête de Beaujolais!
Which is your favourite French wine? How do you rank Beaujolais?
Please share your preferences with Karen and me.
Also, do you have any questions for Karen, she’s here waiting to hear from you.
3. “Thank you for subscribing to ‘le Bulletin’ newsletter” Judy MacMahon
I hope to see you here again soon
Judy MacMahon
Fondatrice
MyFrenchLife.org
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"Real" Beaujolais wines are excellent! I'd love to taste a white one...
Loved the playlist Judy & Karen. Some old favourites like Francis Cabral, and Michel Legrand, Francois Hardy, Serge and then more recent Pink Martini, Madeleine Peyroux, Carla Bruni and Christine & the Queens - and some artists I had not heard of before. Thank you and Santé 🍷