B-21 Top Recommendation
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In the southern end of Burgundy, a different grape takes over from Pinot Noir, producing fresh complex and mineral-driven wines with structure worthy of aging. While Gamay can be found from France to Oregon and even Australia, the Cru appellations of Beaujolais offer the most exceptional and age worthy expressions of Gamay, with the 2019 release labeled "the most consistently exciting vintage for Beaujolais since 1976" by critic James Suckling. These highly rated 2019 Cru Beaujolais selections exhibit impressive aromatics characteristic of the vintage with concentrated fruit and tannic structure, at value pricing unmatched by their Burgundy counterparts.
With yields driven down in the region from a combination of dramatic weather events including early frosts, the 2019 Beaujolais vintage showcases the silver lining of how adverse conditions can eventually yield wines of higher quality. While the lack of rain until late July produced smaller berries, the resulting Cru Beaujolais possess greater concentration. August's heavy rains, hailstorms and temperature extremes further reduced yields from 20-50%, although the remaining grapes were deemed of excellent quality. Primarily a mixture of ancient granite and schist, the individual soils of the Crus heighten Gamay's complexity and structure, expressing each terroir's unique characteristics, from the 93pt Jean-Michel Dupré 2019 Grands Cras in the Morgon Cru boasting full body and luscious ripe fruits, to the 97pt Yohan Lardy 2019 Vieilles Vignes de 1903 of Moulin-à-Vent, sourced from 166-year-old vines, displaying integrated tannins and layered complexity.
Offering incredible quality at exceptional pricing, this short list of top rated 2019 Cru Beaujolais expresses the best of each unique terroir at a fraction of the price of its Burgundy neighbors to the north – or as Wine Spectator's James Molesworth simply states, "These wines are, to put it mildly, a massive bargain." | 
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