WHAT can I write about Beaujolais that hasn’t been said before? Surely I don’t need to mention that it’s a great choice of red in the summer?

This is because it is not a full-bodied wine that will go ‘sticky’ in the sun. It can and should be served slightly chilled, when the mercury starts rising.

Which is not to say Beaujolais is the wrong choice in winter; good examples are a fine match with turkey and the trimmings at Christmas.

In fact it’s just a very versatile wine; it even makes a good aperitif with its juicy fruit flavours and softness. This is perfect if you are a red-only drinker and you don’t want to be seen with a glass of rosé.

So it’s the gamay grape all the way this week for my three recommendations, starting with the Wine Society’s own label Beaujolais Villages, which is affordable and capable. It’s nice and round with plenty of red fruit flavours.

Taking a step up Cuvée Émile Fleurie 2011 is part of the Tesco Finest range. Light, velvety smooth and moreish, it has vibrant notes of strawberry and cherry with a little spice too.

This week’s stand out wine is the delightful Henry Fessy Brouilly 2011 however. Bright, fresh and showing forward fruit flavours of raspberry, red cherry and strawberries, it is lightly spicy and floral with smooth tannins.

The Society’s Beaujolais Village, £6.95 from The Wine Society 15/20
Cuvée Émile Fleurie 2011, £9.99 at Tesco 17/20
Henry Fessy Brouilly 2011, £10.99 at Waitrose 18/20

 

• I COULDN’T resist an invite to the Dean Court Hotel in York, just before the Easter break, for a Champagne Laurent Perrier tasting. There was a good turnout for the event, where six wines were matched with six examples of ‘Yorkshire tapas’. I can still taste the plaice mousseline, in crab bisque sauce, washed down with Laurent Perrier Brut.

There are more food-matching evenings planned in the coming weeks, featuring different drinks, including gin, cider and whisky. Phone the Dean Court Hotel on 01904 625082 for further details.