J Boulon Beaujolais Superieur VV 2025

There was a time when the vineyards outside Beaujolais' more prestigious villages were considered second-rate. Their grapes were often blended into larger productions or sold off to négociants, and there was little financial incentive to replace aging vines. As it turns out, that neglect left behind something rather valuable: vineyards full of old Gamay vines.

Domaine J. Boulon's Beaujolais Supérieur comes largely from vines between 60 and 100 years old, with a small parcel planted in 1990. As the region's climate has warmed, these once-overlooked sites have become more reliable at ripening their fruit. And those old vines, with their established root systems and naturally modest yields, offer the potential for concentration and complexity that younger plantings can struggle to match.

This is a generous, expressive style of Beaujolais, with brambly aromas of fresh blackberry, raspberry and strawberry, complemented by white pepper and warm baking spice. The palate is broad and fruit-driven, but retains the freshness and focus that make Gamay so enjoyable. What really stands out is the length, which is surprisingly persistent for a wine at this level.

Try it with soy-and-ginger-marinated chicken thighs, chorizo tacos or roast pork with herbs. A slight chill will bring out the freshness of the fruit without sacrificing its generous texture.

There is something particularly satisfying about a wine that owes part of its character to vineyards once considered unworthy of much attention. Boulon's Beaujolais Supérieur makes a convincing case for why those old vines were worth keeping.