Jean-Marc Burgaud Les Vignes de Thulon Beaujolais Villages 2011

Over the years of working in the wine industry I have noticed a shift in the consumer patterns for red wine drinkers in Australia. The shift has been from larger more full bodied wines to a lighter medium bodied style that are more savoury and food friendly. If I was to serve 10 customers in one night 10 years ago, 8 out of 10 would have chosen a big bold Barossa Shiraz to go with their meal but now the pendulum has turned the other way as wine like this elegant Beaujolais are rocking peoples world. I guess it is easier to have a glass or two over lunch of these styles and still be able to drive or get back to work for a few hours rather than having to take the rest of the day off.

This wine is imported by Neville Yates of Eurocentric and this producer is fast becoming my favourite for Beaujolais as they seem to offer tremendous amount of savoury flavour in a light to medium frame that possesses structure and finesse.

Jean-Marc Burgaud Les Vignes de Thulon Beaujolais Villages 2011  

The wine starts off savoury and earthen with specks of plum and tart cranberries before the gravy train of cracked pepper kicks in. During the three days that I looked at this wine it stayed elegant and balanced the whole way through but it was the mild chalky tannins that built over that time. They were only a supporting act but the dryness inched up a notch over that time period. The initial flavours came across rather well and it was the mid-palate that plumped up a bit before a nice bitterness on the back-palate presented itself. All in all I could suck down buckets of this stuff without much problem. If I was to compare it with the 09 or 10 vinetage I would say it is more savoury and elegant than the 09 but more fruit than the 10.

Alcohol: 12.5%

Price: $25

Rated: 87

Drink: Now – 2016

Importer: Eurocentric Wines