The picturesque hills of Beaujolais
Temperatures are descending from the peak heights of late summer and settling into the refreshing embraces of early autumn. Likewise, our thirsts are evolving from the crisp mineral whites and roses needing to cool us in the heat into lighter reds that bring fruit and comfort. There is no better companion for this transition than the wines of Beaujolais and its magnificently diverse crus. Earlier this week we featured bottlings from Fleurie, the first haven of evolution for palates seeking reds of finesse, lightness, and delicate fruits. Today we will present to you the next step in your palate’s seasonal journey: the wines of Morgon.
Morgon the Cru
Morgon is one of the largest of the 10 crus that make up the broader appellation of Beaujolais. Positionally it occupies the middle territory of the broader sweep of Beaujolais villages, with Chénas, Moulin-a-Vent, Fleurie and Chiroubles vineyards on it’s northern side, and Brouilly, Côte-de-Brouilly and Régnié wine appellations bordering on the south. The soils here are predominantly composed of the granite that Beaujolais is famous for, but also blue stone schists and iron-rich volcanic material that gives an earthiness to Morgon not found in other Crus.
Morgon wines offer the quintessential generosity of the Gamay grape, plush with distinct stone fruit aromas, and an overall density which eludes other crus. Similar to the sumptuous pinot noirs of northern Burgundy, Morgon wines are velvety in texture, rich but invariably refreshing. They jump out of the glass with red and black fruits, dark florals, as well as a slightly meaty and luscious mouthfeel. In short, they are utterly charming and immensely pleasing to all palates.
How does it get better? Well. The wines of Morgon are also infamous for their ability to age. These are not the bottles of Beaujolais Nouveau you may have seen poured out in vast quantities immediately following harvest. This is serious juice and it’s no coincidence that the top winemakers in the Beaujolais appellation all have a footprint in this cru. Here are Vinopolis we make sure to acquire vintage Morgon releases of Foillard, Thevenet, Bouland, Desvignes, etc. where some of the top wine in Beaujolais can be found year in and year out.
Below we’re going to recommend a few bottles of Morgon that we think are incredible expressions of the cru and amazing values for our customers. Our overall selection of Morgon wines can be found in the table below, and our broader inventory of Beaujolais found on our website. Join us in celebrating the fall with deliciously generous Morgon in your glass!
A few bottles we highly recommend:
Domaine Anita Morgon ‘Chateau-Gaillard’ 2021 750ml $28 special, 33 bottles available
James Suckling 96 points “So ripe and so graceful, this is a staggering wine for 2021 that shows what was possible if you had old vines, you did everything right in the vineyard during the growing season, and then you hit the ideal harvest date. The balance of concentration and the super-fine tannins must be tasted to be believed. And the stony minerality at the finish is off the scale. Great aging potential! Drinkable now, but best from 2024.”
Domaine Louis Claude Desvignes Morgon Javernieres 2021 750ml $39 special, 32 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “There’s no Impenitents bottling this year, so everything went into the 2021 Morgon Côte du Py Javernières, a brilliant effort in this challenging vintage. Unfurling in the glass with aromas of cherries, ripe plums, wild berries, vine smoke and petals, it’s medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy, with terrific mid-palate volume, ripe tannins, tangy acids and a long, penetrating finish.”
Daniel Bouland Morgon Les Delys Vieilles Vignes 2021 750ml $49 special, 26 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 points “Bouland’s bottling from younger vines, the 2021 Morgon Delys delivers notes of plums, wild berries, spices and forest floor, followed by a medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy palate that’s still a little compact after its very recent bottling. It shows plenty of potential, however.”
Domaine Jean Foillard Morgon Cuvee Corcelette 2019 750ml $49 special, 6 bottles available
Vinous 94 points “Saturated magenta. Expressive aromas of red and dark fruit preserves, star anise and potpourri pick up a smoky mineral topnote with air. Juicy and energetic in the mouth, offering concentrated raspberry and cherry liqueur, fruitcake and floral pastille flavors supported by a core of smoky minerality. At once powerful and lithe, finishing on a gently tannic note with superb, floral- and mineral-driven tenacity.”
| MORGON WINES | VWS PRICE | AVAILABLE | REVIEWS | LINK |
| ANITA MORGON CHATEAU GAILLARD 21 | $28.00 | 33 | 96 JS | Link |
| BOULAND MORGON BELLEVUE SABLE 21 | $31.90 | 6 | Link | |
| BOULAND MORGON CAILLOUX 2021 | $36.00 | 7 | 93+ WA | Link |
| BOULAND MORGON DELYS VV 2021 | $49.00 | 26 | 92 WA | Link |
| DESVIGNES MORGON CH. GAILLARD 21 | $33.00 | 36 | 90 WA | Link |
| DESVIGNES MORGON JAVERNIERES 20 | $33.00 | 1 | 94+ WA | Link |
| DESVIGNES MORGON JAVERNIERES 21 | $39.00 | 32 | 94 WA | Link |
| DESVIGNES MORGON MONT 2020 CS-12 | $299.00 | 1 | 92+ WA | Link |
| DESVIGNES MORGON MONTPELAIN 2020 | $28.00 | 13 | 92+ WA | Link |
| DESVIGNES MORGON MONTPELAIN 2021 | $33.00 | 31 | 91 WA | Link |
| FOILLARD MORGON CORCELETTE 2019 | $49.00 | 6 | 94 VINOUS | Link |
| THEVENET MORGON VV 2019 | $35.50 | 4 | 92 GL | Link |