Really fun two bottle tasting tonight:
Two bottles of the same wine, just made 20 years apart!
2001
This one must have been stored impeccably before I bought it. Perfect fill level, pristine label / cork, only moderate chopping to the wax, etc. And it shows in the juice. For an unsulphered Beaujolais, from 23.5 years ago, the vibrant fruit is remarkable. Color has certainly faded and is trending towards orangey brown. Tons of crunchy berries still apparent on the nose and palate. The violet / rose florals I associate with Beaujolais are still there, but layered with oodles of earth, petrichor, and other forest notes. Hints of smells I can’t identify that I associate with aged puerh tea also. Great acidity and tannin bring plenty of structure to this one too. Never faded even hours after pouring. Maybe lightening in a bottle, but this was superb and makes me want to hunt down more well aged Beaujolais. Was the favorite of everyone in the room.
2021
Continues to be a favorite of mine from recent years. Fantastically aromatic and structured. Less ripe and fruited with the minerality, florals, earthy, and hint of funk at the forefront instead. I bought 6 of these on release (first time I ever bought multiples of a bottle at once actually), this is the 3rd I’ve opened and it’s better every time. Going to stash away the remaining ones and forget about them for awhile after tonight.
