The 2021 vintage in the Beaujolais and Maconnais regions of Burgundy is shaping up to be an exceptional one. While Spring frosts reduced crops in some areas, the summer and harvest seasons proceeded normally and the quality is high. We've tasted several and found them to be excellent.

Beaujolais

Gamay is the principal grape of Beaujolais. In 1395, Philippe the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, issued an edict forbidding the cultivation of Gamay in Burgundy, pushing that grape further south, below the Maconnais. The wines of Beaujolais have been considered lighter bodied, but today bigger and more serious wines are being produced, especially from the Crus. 

2021 Domaine Dupeuble Pere & Fils Beaujolais Blanc ($22.99 - wine.com) -  In Beaujolais, only a small amount of white wine is produced from Chardonnay. This one shows a brilliant lemon-gold color and floral aromas of Asian pear-apple, white peach, apple blossoms, acacia flowers and white incense. The flavors are bright and fresh, with yellow fruits that are accented by grape and pear skins, peach stones, citrus and stony minerals. The vibrancy continues on the back with poire and pêche liqueurs and touches of nougat and grapefruit peel on the way to a nicely juice finish. 18.5/20 points.

2021 Jean-Marc Burgaud Beaujolais-Villages, "Lantigné" ($18.99 - wine.com) - This is an amiable Beaujolais. Cherry red colored, it possesses attractive aromas of strawberry, red currant, lilac, and orange peel. The flavors are medium bodied yet mouth filling, with generous red fruits that are imbued with red licorice, milk chocolate, orange pekoe tea and loamy earth. On the back, the wine fills out with fraise and crème de cassis liqueurs and touches of nougat and recurring orange peel, followed by a pleasingly supple tannin finish. 18.5/20 points.

2021 Jean-Marc Burgaud Morgon, "Grands Cras" ($24.99 - wine.com) - This Cru Beaujolais offers a deep cherry-ruby color and enticing aromas of raspberry, myrtile, cassis, crushed roses, brush, wild violets and incense. The flavors are thick and generous, yet focused, with red and blue fruits that are intermixed with licorice, cocoa, black tea and minerals. The penetration continues on the back with framboise and crème de cassis liqueurs, followed by a solid moderate tannin finish. 18.5/20 points.

2021 Jean-Marc Burgaud Morgon, Côte du Py ($27.99 - wine.com) - This comes from a premier vineyard. Deep ruby colored, it emits enticing aromas of raspberry, cherry, black currant, crushed roses, lilac, forest brush and sweet incense. The flavors are mouth filling, with layers of red fruits that are intermixed with cherry stones, licorice, cocoa, black tea and blue stones. The pentration continues on the back with framboise and crème de cassis liqueurs, roasted nuts and a bit of soft charcoal, followed by a lingering ripe, chewy tannin finish. 18.5+/20 points.

2021 Anne-Sophie Dubois Fleurie, "Les Cocottes" ($32.99 - wine.com) - Because of Spring frost, this wine was made from a friend's vineyard. It shows a purplish color and seductive aromas of fraises de bois, myrtiles, cassis, crushed rose petals, purple lilac, arboreal carpet and stick incense. The flavors are generous yet deep and mouth encompassing, with layers of red fruits that are intermixed with licorice, cocoa powder, herbal tea and granitic minerals. The back fills out with pressed berries, roasted pecans, fraise and crème de cassis liqueurs and soft charcoal, followed by a ripe tannin finish. 19/20 points.

2021 Château Thivin Côte de Brouilly ($34.99 - wine.com) - This an admirable Cru Beaujolais. It displays a brilliant ruby-crimson color and perfumed aromas of fraises de bois, cranberry, red currant, crushed rose petals, lilac, violets and whiffs of sweet incense. The flavors, as well, are alluring, with lavish red fruits that are intermixed with red licorice, cocoa powder, chamomile tea and granitic minerals. The appeal continues on the back with gently pressed berries, hazelnuts, fraise and crème de cassis liqueurs, all leading into a lingering, finely fruited finish. A "vin de plaisir." 19/20 points.

Mâconnais

Mâconnais is the birthplace of the Chardonnay grape. There is a village in the heart of the region named Chardonnay. The soils are varied, granitic, calcareous and slatey. The sun drenched slopes produce pleasing, fruity wines.

2021 Domaine Perraud Mâcon-Villages, "De la Grande Burette" ($19.99 - wine.com) - This shows a brilliant lemon-gold color and attractive aromas of pear-apple, white peach, witht notes of apple blossoms, acacia flowers and yellow incense. The flavors are bright and fresh, pure Chardonnay, with notes of pear skins, peach stones and stony minerals. The vibrancy continues on the back with poire and pêche liqueurs and touches of hazelnut and lemon zest, followed by a nicely fruited finish. 18.5/20 points. 

2021 Les Pierres Grises Saint Veran ($22.99 - wine.com) - Saint Veran is situated adjacent to Pouilly-Fuissé. This one shows a brilliant lemon-gold color and enticing aromas of pear-apple, white peach and citrus, with scents of apple blossoms, acacia flowers and wet stone. The flavors, as well, are captivating, with white fruits that are intermixed with grape and pear skins and limestone ("grey stones"). The resonance continues on the back with poire and pêche liqueurs and a touch of nougat and a twist of grapefruit peel, followed by a brisk finish. 18.5/20 points.

2021 André Bonhomme Virê Clessé, "Les Pierres Blanches" ($27.99 - wine.com) - Viré Clessé is one of the best climats in the heart of the Mâconnais. This one displays a brilliant lemon-gold color and floral aromas of Anjou pear, white peach, pear blossoms, acacia flowers, wisteria and yellow incense. The pure Chardonnay flavors are exquisitely wrought, with yellow fruits that are interwoven with pear skins, peach stones and white stones ("pierres blanches"). The resonance continues on the back with poire and pêche liqueurs and touches of nougat and crème fraiche, followed by a lingering, silky, finely fruited finish. 19/20 points.

2021 Louis Jadot Pouilly-Fuissé ($29.99 - wine.com) - This highly respected house has turned out a lovely Pouilly-Fuissé. Brilliant gold colored, it possesses floral aromas of pear-apple, peach, pear blossoms, wisteria, honeysuckle and flintstone. The flavors are deliciously ripe and mouth filling, pure Chardonnay, with notes of grape and pear skins and granitic minerals. The vibrancy continues on the back with poire and pêche liqueurs and touches of nougat and crème fraiche, followed by a lingering, precise finish. 19/20 points.