Beaujolais | 2021 vintage
Weather conditions were fairly normal at the start of 2021. Unfortunately, as was the case in many other French regions, conditions deteriorated between April and early August. The region was hit by a series of record-breaking frosts in April, before hitting record rainfall levels in May, while cold temperatures continued to prevail. Naturally, this had major repercussions on the vegetative cycle of the vines, which fell behind ten-year averages.
Flowering occurred later than expected, and a disastrous July prevented growth from really picking up. Winegrowers hadn’t seen this much rain in the region for almost fifty years! This particularly tough vintage was heading towards very average quality and low yields, as the vineyards suffered from severe fungal disease outbreaks in places. Fortunately, the weather finally improved from mid-August until harvest time, when it became drier and sunny again.
The delay observed throughout the vintage was never recovered, and the harvest officially started on 13 September for both Beaujolais and Beaujolais villages, some ten days later than the average recorded over almost twenty years. The 10 crus were harvested later than usual.
With limited quantities, this vintage could have given rise to fears of the worst. However, the Indian summer at the end of the harvest helped the grapes to ripen well. The grapes attained a balance that can be described as classic, in other words, it did not have an overly high alcohol percentage, as was the case in previous years. The resulting Gamays are particularly easy-drinking and delicious, offering chiselled flavours tinged with fine, precise notes of red fruit. The wines have retained freshness and finesse, so are particularly easy to digest and pleasant to drink. Beaujolais and Beaujolais Villages offering this light score should be drunk relatively quickly.
Nevertheless, as is generally the case in more challenging vintages, the region’s best winemakers have produced impressive wines, particularly in the Crus, where the best cuvées exhibit excellent concentration and great ageing potential.
