MIPTC#7 - Pacalet Beaujolais les Marcellins 2021

Hi folks! Welcome to another edition of the #MayItPleaseTheCork newsletter! This week, we're going straight into what is most likely one of, if not the trendiest wine style around these days: Beaujolais.

All right, first things first because anglophones are traditionally terrible at this: it's pronounced bow-jo-LAY, with no "dj" sound on the "jo". All clear? Good. You'll already look smarter at your next dinner party.

Next, what is Beaujolais and why is it so trendy? Mostly because it has become the epitome of the "new wine" movement.

As I said last time around, millenials and Gen Zs of drinking age seems to have developed a very different palate from their parents'. Instead of structured, ultra-flavorful "fruit bombs", they tend to prefer higher acidity wines with little to no tannins in youth. They also seem not to mind classical "flaws" as much (be it reduction, volatile acidity, even refermentation) and thus prefer cleaner types (re: natural wines) over more engineered styles.

Enters Beaujolais: an until often forgotten highly productive wine region just South of its more famous sister, Burgundy. While actually officially considered "part" of Burgundy, its climate is actually closer to what you would see in the Rhône, but the wines definitely have sufficient individuality and personality to have their own style and ethos.

99% of the wines made here are reds from Gamay, a very old varietal that has been in recorded production since at least the 15th century. It is high acid and low in tannin and tends to work well in natural production techniques and style. It is therefore no wonder it has become the belle of the ball for a new wave that likes exactly that. What is more, it used to be (not so much anymore due to its increased popularity) incredible bang for buck, which somms and other wine afficionados were eager to leverage as well.

I'll say to wrap up this introduction that I've had incredible Beaujolais in the past. They can be powerful and graceful as a top-end ballerina, with thought-provoking complexity wrapped in a flirty and sensual package. Sadly, this is not one of them.

OK, let's get to the tasting part!

The Skinny

• From: Beaujolais.

• Varietals: Gamay 100%

• Price: $18,45 CAD

• Feature: None

Tasting Notes

On the nose, there is really not much going on at first. So little, in fact, that I had to take a near dive into the glass to get anything worth discussing. Air did help after a little while, but this surely wasn't an aromatic wine by any sense of the word. After a lot of work, I was able to get tart cherries, candy raspberries, maybe a bit of rose petals?

On the palate, you don't really get much either, but the structure is decent: zippy acidity and soft, almost transient tannins make for a balanced experience that holds itself quite well to a persistent finish. This is thirst-quenching and makes you want to get back to it, but you really don't get much flavor out of the experience at all. I'd therefore describe this style as more "tactile" (i.e. what it feels in your mouth) vs. aromatic (i.e. what it actually tastes like)

Sorry for the short review... There really wasn't much to describe here!

Cutting To The Chase: Does It Please The Cork?

I mean, it is well-made and you can tell there was skill in making this, but I just found it flat-out boring and a little watery to be perfectly honest. I personally wouldn't care to buy another bottle, but those who enjoy very faint flavors might enjoy its refreshing and thirst-quenching qualities... but it won't be this guy!

Cork Score: 2.5/5* (adding an extra .5 since this wasn't flawed and still refreshing, but life is too short to drink such boring wines. Give me some aromatics, please!)

***

*Here's the lowdown on the scores, by the way. Essentially, I don't believe in 100-point scales for things as subjective as wine. Simply put, I just don't think one can credibly justify a 1% or even a 10% increment between two wines. I therefore choose to go a bit more basic. Here's how I break it down:

• 1/5: Seriously faulty, terrible, undrinkable;

• 2/5: Flawed and/or of bad quality. This is the type of stuff you should probably cook with and not drink;

• 3/5: Decent. This is where most entries will end up. These wines are clean and well-balanced, but not particularly memorable and/or exceptional. They are recommendable, but not an experience per se;

• 4/5: Exceptional. I sadly drink few wines that get this rating, but my purpose is to drink more. This denotes a memorable bottle that brought up some kind of emotion in me. This left a mark, and odds are I am now busy recommending it to everybody I know;

• 5/5: Perfect. I think I have probably tasted less than 5 bottles that would have qualified for a 5/5 in my entire life. This denotes an absolutely incredible wine that will imprint a definite memory for years to come - a true experience in itself.