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Cru Beaujolais bottles are serious, delectable, and often age-worthy wines. Here’s where to go for the best vintages in Westchester County.
As wine aficionados know, most so-called “Cru” wines (from the top 10 communes in the Beaujolais area) are a far cry from the bubblegum scented, punch-like nouveaux wines from the same region of France. Moreover, these Cru wines make excellent accompaniment to spring and summer fare. The following denote a few top-level, sensibly priced, locally available bottles.
2019 Dutraive Saint Amour Clos du Chapitre ($40)
Some may find this wine too light and delicate, but it’s perfect for those who enjoy a simple, straightforward red with a bouquet and taste of raspberries and strawberries. Serve it with shrimp, scallops, and grilled chicken breast. Find it: Grapes, The Wine Company, in White Plains, and Station Plaza Wine, in Bronxville.
2017 Domaine Jean-Claude Lapalu Cuvée des Fous Brouilly ($42)
From vineyards planted around 1900, only organically grown grapes are used to produce this full-bodied, fragrant red. After a few minutes of aeration, it shows a bouquet and taste of ripe plums, melons, and cassis that mate well with turkey, veal, and pasta with red sauce. Find it: Zachys, in Scarsdale, and Suburban Wine & Spirits, in Yorktown Heights.
2019 Coudert Fleurie Cuvée Christie ($22)
This elegant wine was made from hand-harvested gamay grapes, sustainably grown in sandy soils on 30-to-40-year-old vines. It has a bouquet and taste of ripe strawberries and cranberries with a smooth finish. Match it with risotto primavera, grilled chicken, and even grilled swordfish. Find it: Bottle Grove, in White Plains, and Varmax Liquor Pantry, in Port Chester.
Antoine Sunier Régnié Montmerond 2018 ($29)
Following fermentation, this wine was aged for eight months in used Burgundy barrels. It shows an easy-drinking bouquet and taste of ripe cherries and raspberries, which marries well with burgers, pizza, and grilled ribs. Find it: Varmax Liquor Pantry, in Port Chester, Blue Dog Wines & Spirits, in Pelham, and Fairway Wines & Spirits, in Pelham Manor.
