Making a case for Beaujolais

November 10, 2026

Alex Dale’s love affair with Burgundy and Beaujolais spans some 50 years. Look beneath the surface and the two regions have a great deal in common, yet over the past half-century their reputations have gone in starkly different directions. Burgundy rose to the very top of the fine-wine trade. Beaujolais, meanwhile, came to be known for the bubblegum-and-banana caricature of Beaujolais Nouveau, an image its serious producers have spent decades trying to shake off.

The 2026 Nouveau arrives on Thursday 19 November, as it does on the third Thursday of every November. The grapes of 2026 picked and to bottle in just six to eight weeks, much of it from Gamay farmed for volume rather than character, and it is made to be bright, simple and drunk young. It can be great fun. But its fame has long overshadowed the other end of the scale: Cru Beaujolais, from the geologically complex hills in the north of the region, and a treasure trove of artisanal producers, old vines and progressive farming.

There is a silver lining. Because Nouveau shaped how the world sees Beaujolais, the region’s best wines still offer exceptional value. More and more wine lovers are discovering them, including our long standing Burgundy customers, and our portfolio has grown to match: today we import more than 40 cuvées from 14 independent, family-owned producers.

Below is a quick guide to the ten crus, listed from north to south, with a wine to try from each. And if you would like to taste your way through the region, our Beaujolais Explorer Pack brings six of them together, including two older vintages that demonstrate the longevity Beaujolais can offer.

THE 1O CRUS OF BEAUJOLAIS

1. Saint-Amour

Style: The northernmost cru. Perfumed and elegant, with a little more spice and grip in the top wines.
Flavour: Raspberry and redcurrant, floral notes of peony and violet, and a touch of spice.
Try: Domaine du Clos du Fief Saint-Amour Les Capitans (in the Explorer Pack).

2. Juliénas

Style: Structured, deeply coloured and one of the more muscular crus. Said to be named after Julius Caesar, it has the heft to match, and benefits from a little time to open up.
Flavour: Black cherry and cassis with earthy, spicy, cinnamon notes, and sometimes a hint of peach or peony on the nose.
Try: Domaine du Clos du Fief Juliénas Clos du Fief.

3. Chénas

Style: The smallest cru, named after the oak (chêne) forests that once covered its slopes. Complex, structured and comparatively rare,it bridges the charm of Fleurie and the power of Moulin-à-Vent.
Flavour: Peony and rose with dark berries, black pepper and an earthy undertone.
Try: Domaine du Vieux Bourg Chénas Au Bois Retour.

4. Moulin-à-Vent

Style: The powerhouse and, if you ask the local vignerons, the king of the crus. Its pink granite, veined with manganese, gives deep, tannic wines built for the long haul. After five to ten years in the cellar, they can taste remarkably like mature Côte de Nuits.
Flavour: Dark fruit, ripe cherry and iris, moving towards exotic spice, truffle and leather with age.
Try: Domaine Paul Janin et Fils Moulin-à-Vent Héritage, from vines over 100 years old (the 2019 is in the Explorer Pack).

5. Fleurie

Style: Graceful, silky and aromatic, Fleurie puts finesse and perfume ahead of power. Seamless, charming and hints of Syrah like aromatics.
Flavour: Red berries, iris, violet and crushed rose.
Try: Domaine des Marrans Fleurie La Roche Hampagne.

6. Chiroubles

Style: The highest cru, on cool, thin granite sands. Light on its feet, fresh and transparent: the ultimate braai wine, best enjoyed slightly chilled.
Flavour: Bright, brambly red cherry and raspberry with a marine like freshness.
Try: Domaine de la Grosse Pierre Chiroubles La Grosse Pierre via Ex-Animo.

7. Morgon

Style: Earthy, mineral, structured and age-worthy. With time, Morgon is said to morgonner, taking on a Burgundian, Pinot-like character. If Moulin-à-Vent is the heavyweight, Morgon is the soul of the region.
Flavour: Kirsch and macerated cherry, wet stone, forest floor and liquorice.
Try: Domaine Jean Foillard Morgon Côte du Py, one of the iconic wines of Beaujolais, or Domaine du Vieux Bourg Morgon Cinq Terres (the 2023 is in the Explorer Pack).

8. Régnié

Style: The youngest cru, on bright pink granite. Juicy, vibrant and very easy to drink: pure fruit with a lively snap.
Flavour: Fresh raspberry and red berries with a lick of savoury spice.
Try: Domaine Raphaël Chopin Régnié La Ronze (the 2022 is in the Explorer Pack).

9. Brouilly

Style: The largest cru, wrapped around the foot of Mont Brouilly. Generous, friendly and the quintessential crowd-pleaser.
Flavour: Plum, raspberry and red berries with a mineral, peppery freshness.
Try: Château de la Chaize Brouilly Les Deux Amis (the 2023 is in the Explorer Pack).

10. Côte de Brouilly

Style: Grown on the slopes of Mont Brouill itself, on a hard, blue-green volcanic rock known locally as corne verte. Typically darker, tighter and more savoury than Brouilly.
Flavour: Wild berries and black fruit, herbs and a flinty minerality.
Try: Château de la Chaize Côte de Brouilly Lieu-Dit Bruhlier, or Château Thivin Côte de Brouilly Cuvée Zaccharie (the 2020 is in the Explorer Pack).