Jean-Paul Brun's Beaujolais L'Ancien is always so juicy, so polished, and so satisfying, and the new release is another highly successful rendition.
This is a wine that always fools me into thinking it's Pinot Noir, and there's a very good reason for that. Monsieur Brun eschews the more typical carbonic maceration in favor of traditional Burgundian vinification.
Don't forget, Beaujolais is technically part of Burgundy, and Brun's L'Ancien bottling shows some serious pedigree. It also helps you to better understand that Gamay and Pinot Noir are actually close relatives. Give this a try, I think you'll be quite impressed!
2020 Jean-Paul Brun Beaujolais L'Ancien
91 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
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I drink a lot of Beaujolais, but this is the one I drink the most. Why, you ask? Because it tastes a lot like Red Burgundy, my favorite wine on the planet, and I can't afford to drink Red Burgundy on a daily basis. There's a refinement and grace to Brun's Beaujolais L'Ancien that you'll rarely encounter in Beaujolais' in this price range.
100% Gamay from 50-70 year-old, organically farmed vines in Jean-Paul's home village of Charnay, these old vines yield small berries with thicker skins. These old vines give us a wine that is rich, fleshy, supple, and somewhat "serious.
The 2020 is medium to full-bodied, silky, and flowing with aromas and flavors of ripe cherry, plum, raspberry preserves, and earthy spice. Quite reminiscent of a high-quality, village-level Red Burgundy, I never get tired of drinking this wine with burgers, roast chicken, or salmon.
Just in case you need another opinion, The Wine Advocate had this to say. "The 2020 Beaujolais l’Ancien soars from the glass with scents of cherries, red fruit compote and plums. Medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy, it's rich and enveloping, with succulent acids and an expansive finish. More gourmand than its 2019 counterpart, it's a dramatic, appealing wine that's already drinking well."
Drinking beautifully right now, I have had this wine with 3 to 5 years of age, and it gets better and even more Burgundian. Your call totally, but I'd get a six-pack if I were you :)
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Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville