Wine Recommendations

Grapes

Beaujolais’s refreshing acidity and bright, fruity character make it an ideal red for warm weather. Chill it for a half-hour or so in the refrigerator or an ice bucket, then serve it with just about anything you want to eat. Look especially for the exceptional 2015, which Georges Duboeuf calls the best vintage for Beaujolais since 1947.

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Les Vins Georges Duboeuf Domaine des Rosiers Moulin-à-Vent 2014

Two and a half stars.

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Beaujolais, France, $25

One of Duboeuf’s domaine wines from a Beaujolais cru, the Domaine des Rosiers shines with red-fruit flavors and a hint of wood spice to give it complexity. Alcohol by volume: 13 percent.

Paul Durdilly Les Grandes Coasses 2015

GREAT VALUE Two stars.

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Beaujolais, France, $12

This effusively delicious Beaujolais – from the wider regional appellation rather than one of the smaller crus – offers the fun fruitiness of a Beaujolais nouveau, accented by the smoky complexity of a more serious wine. Buy this by the case and enjoy it over the next two to three years. ABV: 13 percent.

Jean-Marc Lafont Saint-Amour 2012

GREAT VALUE Two and a half stars

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Beaujolais, France, $20

At its best, a Beaujolais cru wine can mimic Burgundy. This Saint-Amour is elegant and nimble, with a dancer’s grace. ABV: 12.5 percent.

Domaine Foretal Juliénas 2013

GREAT VALUE Two stars.

Beaujolais, France, $18

This Beaujolais cru is full of dark red-fruit flavors; it’s a bit moody compared with the usual cheerfulness of Beaujolais, perfect for a cool rainy night. ABV: 13 percent.

Les Dauphins Rosé Réserve 2015

GREAT VALUE Two stars.

Côtes du Rhône, France, $9

A crisp, clear rosé with strawberry and watermelon flavors. I’ve loved this great-value pink for several vintages, and 2015 does not disappoint. ABV: 13 percent.

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Three stars Exceptional, two stars Excellent, one star Very Good

Prices are approximate. Check Winesearcher.com to verify availability, or ask a favorite wine store to order through a distributor.