Joseph Drouhin 2007 Brouilly

I still have a couple of bottles of this old friend, my first post, the 2006 Brouilly from Joseph Drouhin. Now it's time to see about the latest vintage:

Clear medium red-purple. Doesn't seem to exhibit very much of the petilance I noted in the 2006.

Smell of strawberry, blackberry, spice notes. Fruity taste of berries, some cherry, some spice. Spicy finish. I suspect the spiciness is from some aging in oak, but I'm not certain. Not predominantly aged in new oak, I don't think.

The next day all seems little changed.

Would buy again at $17.29, but, as I said last year, I would probably look elsewhere. It's tasty, but I'm not convinced it's a $17.29 bottle.

Chateau de La Chaize 2005 Brouilly

Pale ruby color, lacks depth. Raspberry / strawberry smell, vinegary carbonic maceration character. Tart flavor, a mouthful of berries. If the color lacks depth, the flavor certainly doesn’t. Oak seems more in balance than it did in the ‘04. Perhaps I’m just more used to it.

The next day, the second half of the bottle and I’m still fascinated by how much oak is in this beaujolais. It’s still in balance with the exuberant fruit.

Beaujolais isn’t a wine that inspires much intellectual contemplation, but one that provides sensual enjoyment and satisfaction.

As was true for the 2004, while I’d buy this again for $19.79, I’d look first for something else for the money.

Chateau de La Chaize 2004 Brouilly

Mild tawny color, tending to orange. Smell of raspberry, strawberry. The heavy degree of oak seems a surprise in a Beaujolais. Fresh strawberry / raspberry taste, some vanillany oak. Trace of the vinegar characteristic of carbonic maceration. Petillance noticeable to the eye and the tongue.

Removing the stopper he next day, the room fills with the smell of strawberry fruit. Some cherry flavor develops along with berries, the oak remains distinct.

I’m not entirely convinced that the degree of oak is appropriate here, but I have learned that Chateau de La Chaize will readily tolerate ten or fifteen years of age, while Brouilly isn’t often thought of as a particularly age-worthy Beaujolais, so I accept this as what it is, and I move on. I’d happily buy this again for $19.79, but there’s a lot of good wine in that price range.

Joseph Drouhin 2006 Brouilly

Bright clear red-purple. Smell of strawberry, hint of vinegar. Fruity taste of berries, also a hint of vinegar, a bit of petilance discernible on the tongue. Would buy again at $17.99, but would probably look elsewhere.