Barton & Guestier Beaujolais Villages 2009

Beaujolais is a French wine generally made of the Gamay grape. Beaujolais Villages is the appellation in the north of the Beaujolais region. The terroir of this area is considered to be one of the best for growing the Gamay varietal and as a result Beaujolais Villages wines are regarded as higher quality than those of the Beaujolais appellation.

About Barton & Guestier from their website:

“It was in 1725 that Irishman Thomas Barton settled in Bordeaux to start his company, which is today the city’s oldest winehouse still in activity… His grandson Hugh teamed up with Frenchman Daniel Guestier and in 1802 their partnership became official. From the Chartrons area in the center of Bordeaux, barrels and bottles were loaded on board of ships that sailed via the Garonne river to numerous countries, starting with Ireland, England, Holland and the USA to reach over 130 countries at present.”

The B&G Beaujolais Villages 2009 is a light-bodied red wine. Our seven year-old bottle shows a little sign of aging in the wine’s brick-tinted color, but no sediment. The fruits in the nose are still bright and fresh. Primary aromas consist of plum and cherry. Secondary aromas include banana and mushroom with a whiff of smoke.

The plum and cherry fruits on the palate are joined by cranberry and hints of bubble gum and minerals. The mouth-feel is bright and crisp with low tannins. The high acidity on the medium-length finish stops just short of being too tart.

We served this wine slightly chilled and it paired well with pepperoni and garlic and herb Boursin cheese. We drink many of our full-bodied California reds before eating, but the Beaujolais Villages was better with food.

Overall, Beaujolais Villages has some similarities to Pinot Noir. If you like Pinot but need to stay within a budget, this wine is a good compromise. At less than $15, the Barton & Guestier Beaujolais Villages delivers a lot for the price.