Jadot Beaujolais Village 2010

Full and generous dark cherry flavors make this a potent, relatively large-scale Beaujolais. The finish contrasts sweetness with the bite of resinous tannin, offering potential to develop over the next year.

Ruby-red. Enticing aromas of raspberry, cherry pie and smoky herbs. Sweet and juicy but tight, with tangy flavors of redcurrant, spicecake and cracked pepper. Finishes brisk and tight, with good clarity. This is quite a bit more serious than the straight Beaujolais, and offers less mainstream appeal; I like its vibrancy and focus.

Yes, I know Beaujolais Nouveau is out of favor, itrsquo;s yesterdayrsquo;s wine. But this isnrsquo;t Nouveau, this is the real stuff, the original up-front fruity wine. Made from Gamay grape, itrsquo;s packed with strawberries, cherries, and soft, generous fruit. Therersquo;s a slight earthy, mineral touch to it that stops it just being a fruit bomb, and turns it into an easy food wine, especially with salamis, sausages or burgers.

Beaune-based Louis Jadot has upgrades its Beaujolais operations in recent years, seeing an opportunity for growth. The 2002 vintage of its flagship Beaujolais, Chacirc;teau des Jacques, hasnrsquo;t been released yet, but this fine Beaujolais-Villages shows that the commitment to quality is real. The glass overflows with blackberry and black cherry aromas, while in the mouth the wine is clean, fresh and charming.

Light-bodied red and black cherry fruit with a violet note as well. Slightly earthy, firm finish. Drink now.

Pour this light, clean, cherry-fruited Beaujolais on a picnic with landjaeger sausages.

The broad Beaujolais-Villages Blanc appellation does no justice to this elegant estate Chardonnay, more an unusual white Burgundy with stature and grace. Its light scents are touched by fresh mushroom and a wild fruit aroma that clarifies into kumquat and dried pineapple later in the finish. In the middle, therersquo;s a full, nutty richness that broadens on the palate, held tight along a gunflint edge. The gunflint and the exotic fruit last for minutes, transitioning from an actual taste to a memory. Itrsquo;s not a forceful wine; rather itrsquo;s gentle and distinctive.