Regnié

Régnié is probably the lightest of the Beaujolais Crus but that should not be taken as a negative. On the contrary, these wines are often very refined, complex and beautifully flavoured.

This 2011 from Domaine de Colonat is superb and everything you would wish for in a Beaujolais Cru and, more specifically, one from Régnié.

It has a lovely clarity, lighter than most Pinot Noir, with a twinkling ruby in the glass. On the nose there is plenty of cherry and other red berries with eastern spices coming through. In the mouth there is a fair amount of attack although the tannins are quite light. The earthiness of Gamay is there in spades (pardon the deliberate pun!) with the fruit becoming more stewed than fresh as the maturity increases.

Ben says of the 2011 (October 2018): The notes above were written two years earlier but are still accurate. This is a perfect representation of Beaujolais as a whole and Regnie in particular. Tremendous minerality on the nose along with the cherries and a lot of cherry stones. The flavours are lovely and the finish is very long and delicious!

Do drink it now but do keep a few bottles to enjoy over the next few years.