Beaujolais Belongs in Your Red Wine Rotation

If you only know Beaujolais from the annual Nouveau celebration, you are missing out on some of the most charming and under-appreciated red wines in the world. Red Beaujolais is made from the Gamay grape, and the best examples from the top sites, called crus, have an elegance and character that reminds me of Pinot Noir. Some of the crus to look for on the label are: Cote de Brouilly, Moulin-à-Vent, Fleuire, and Morgon. The latter, pictured above, is from famed producer Marcel Lapierre. Try any of these Beaujolais with a slight chill on them; they are versatile with all kinds of food, from salmon to burgers.