Alexandre Parigot – 2021
Tasted in Meloisey with Alexandre Parigot, 13 December 2022. Domaine Alexandre Parigot 8 Route de Pommard 21190 Meloisey Tel: +33 3 80 26 01 70 More reports with Alexandre Parigot Alexandre on 2021: “21 – yes it was worse for volume than in 2016 – we were between 20-25 hl/ha… Read More
Louis Jadot – 2021
Tasted in Beaune with Frédéric Barnier, 29 November, 2022. Louis Jadot 21 Rue Eugène Spuller 21200 Beaune Tel: +33 3 80 22 10 57 www.louisjadot.com More reports with Maison Louis Jadot Frédéric on 2022: “If we had this volume every year it would be very good – but it’s not… Read More
Thibert – 2019
Tasted in Fuissé with the family team of Sandrine Thibert-Needham with Christophe and Camille Thibert, 04 November 2022. Domaine Thibert Père et Fils 20 rue Adrien Arcelin 71960 Fuissé Tel: +33 3 85 27 02 66 www.domaine-thibert.com More reports with Domaine Thibert. Christophe and Camile began by explaining that they… Read More
2022 Beaujolais Nouveau – as good as it gets!
The 2022 vintage:The 2021-2022 winter was long and, compared to most of the recent years, relatively cold. Frosts were commonplace until the beginning of April so probably because of that, budburst - in the second half of April - was relatively late. At this time, the domaines were already noting a lack of rain in the vineyards.
May was a warm and dry one: 50% less rainfall than normal plus more sunshine than usual - it was the warmest May on record since 1959.
The vines grew quickly and flowering took place in ideal, if early, conditions. Despite the dryness of May, there was sufficient rain in June to avoid issues with the vines even if the quantity of rainfall remained much below the average. It was in July that (not just!) the Beaujolais saw successive waves of hot weather - again lacking rain - it was the driest July for 33 years with 8mm of rain instead of an average of 68mm! This meant that the sanitary conditions of the vines couldn't have been better.
The harvest was very early - from the middle of August! The hot weather had reduced the amount of malic acid in the grapes but concentrated the amount of tartaric acid. Despite a little more rain in the area of Beaujolais Villages, the wines were concentrated and volumes were modest, so unlike in 2020, it was rarely possible for domaines to 'take advantage' of the volumes on offer - so there is a consistency in the concentration and ripeness in these 2022s.
Many thanks to the team at Château du Moulin à Vent for some of their vintage insight.
The best wines:
I just hope that you have some chance to find such domaine wines. Last year my local (Swiss) coop had only one, which was bottled just for them - no producer info - and that was probably just as well because it was rubbish!
Whilst there were few 'great wines' in the equivalent tasting of 2021s, last year, those that were, clearly stood out from the crowd. In 2022 it was more difficult because the average quality was very consistent and as high as I have seen it - in this respect it reminds me very much of the 2019 vintage. From 100 wines there was one that was corked - the second bottle was fine - and only one wine where I directly said 'NO!' - I wouldn't put this one in my mouth a second time!
Any complaints?
Actually, yes! Why so many heavy, statement, bottles? - 'Prestigious cuvées?' This is Beaujolais Nouveau for God's sake. WTF!?
4 Great wines:
Dominique Piron: Beaujolais AND Beaujolais Villages
Domaine de Colette, Natur’Elle de Colette, Villages
Domaine des Nugues Villages
12 Excellent Wines - Beaujolais:
Jean Yves Sonnery
Anthony Charvet, Beaujo Beau
JM Aujoux, La vie est belle
Frédéric Berne
Domaine Perthuizet, Gégé
Trenel
Château de L’Eclair
Domaine des Prévellières
Julien Bertrand
Brossette Paul André et Fils
Agamy, Domaine du Solémy
8 Excellent Wines - Beaujolais Villages:
Château de Vaux De Vermont Yannick
Vignobles Jambon, Pure
Domaine Péchard Tano
David Berougon
Jean-Paul Dubost, Beaujolais Lantignié
Domaine du Clos du Fief
Château de Pougelon
Jean Yves Sonnery, Cuvée Elégance
Click on 'Read More...' below to see the full notes for 100 wines in the order that they were (blind) tasted:
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Henri et Gilles Buisson – 2020
Tasted with Franck and (only very shortly) Fred Buisson in Saint Romain, 10 May 2022. Domaine Henri et Gilles Buisson 21190 Saint Romain Tel : +33 3 80 21 27 91 www.domaine-buisson.com More reports with Domaine Henri et Gilles Buisson On 2022, so far: “We just needed some candles in… Read More
Beaujolais’ Pierres Dorées – a tasting
Given the precedent of a group of quality-minded producers in Beaujolais’ Lantignié – whereby they are differentiating themselves from Beaujolais-Villages by using the Lantignié name on their labels and making wine worth a few extra Euros per bottle versus the average – the same is now afoot in the Pierres… Read More
28 blind-tasted Northern Burgundy 2020s
All tasted, as is the habit, blind – the identities only revealed for the photos – after the notes were written. Unfortunately, no ‘Bravo / Great Wines’ but I did highlight the modest number that I found excellent. As noted in my January report there’s a high percentage of wines… Read More
Bourgogne-Devaux – 2020
Tasted with Luc Bourgogne in Meloisey, 14 March 2022. Domaine Bourgogne-Devaux 2 Chemin de Mavilly 21190 Meloisey Tel: +33 3 80 26 04 02 www.domaine-bourgogne-devaux.com/ A tiny, 2.75 hectare, domaine but one with a long history. Today, run by two brothers – Luc and Fabrice Bourgogne-Devaux – the domaine dating… Read More
Jean Loron – 2020
Tasted in Pontanevaux, with Philippe Bardet & Frédéric Maignet 15 March 2022. Maison Jean Loron 1846 RN 6 71570 Pontanevaux Tel: +33 3 85 36 81 20 www.loron.fr Other reports with Jean Loron Frédéric on 2020: “2020 started with a lot of grapes though, in the end, we lost a… Read More