Beaujolais Wines — The Ten Crus, Fresh Discoveries & Expert Picks

The word Beaujolais conjures, for many wine drinkers, images of Beaujolais Nouveau — the light, fruity wine released each November that became a global phenomenon in the 1970s and 80s. But this one commercial triumph has long obscured the far more interesting story of what the region is truly capable of.

The ten Beaujolais crus represent some of the best value in French wine: complex, food-friendly, age-worthy wines from the Gamay grape that at their best can genuinely compete with good-to-excellent Burgundy Pinot Noir.

The Terroir of Beaujolais

Beaujolais sits south of Burgundy in the Rhône-Alpes region. The northern part of the appellation — where the ten crus are located — is dominated by granite, schist, and volcanic soils that produce the region's most characterful wines. The southern zone, on clay and limestone, produces the lighter, earlier-drinking Beaujolais and Beaujolais-Villages.

The Ten Crus in Detail

1.    Morgon (1,100 ha): The most structured and long-lived cru. Wines from the Côte du Py volcanic hill develop extraordinary complexity: cherry, kirsch, earth, spice. Age 5-10 years from good producers.

2.   Moulin-à-Vent (660 ha): Known as the "Seigneur du Beaujolais." Powerful, age-worthy, often displaying Pinot Noir-like characteristics with 8-10 years' age.

3.   Fleurie (880 ha): The most charming and perfumed cru. Violets, roses, silk — elegance personified.

4.  Brouilly (1,300 ha): The largest cru, producing fresh, rounded, approachable wines. Good introduction to cru Beaujolais.

5.   Côte de Brouilly (320 ha): The volcanic hillside above Brouilly, producing more concentrated, mineral wines.

6.   Chénas (285 ha): The smallest and rarest cru, offering power and elegance at attractive prices.

7.   Juliénas (580 ha): One of Beaujolais' oldest wine villages. Structured, floral, with good ageing potential.

8.   Saint-Amour (310 ha): Light, perfumed, charming. Perfect for spring drinking.

9.   Chiroubles (370 ha): The highest-altitude cru. Lightest and most ethereal in style.

10. Régnié (395 ha): Soft, fruity, approachable — the newest cru (1988).

A Personal Connection

Our co-owner Camille François comes from the Thorin winemaking family, with deep roots in Beaujolais. This gives us privileged access to some of the region's most exciting small producers — domaines that rarely export and represent extraordinary value for the quality they deliver. When Camille selects a Beaujolais, it carries the weight of personal knowledge and genuine conviction.