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Beaujolais announces ‘legendary’ harvest

Ranking alongside 2009, 2015 and 2017, the 2018 harvest would “go down in history”, according to the trade body, with the first wines tasted “extremely promising” and showing advantages of an early-ripening vintage without having any of its disadvantages, said Bertrand Chatelet, director of Sicarex Beaujolais.

"They're velvety. The wines are going to extract their color and structure thanks to long periods of maceration. They are round and silky, but concentrated and rich. The tannins are subtle and elegant," he said.

The ripening conditions had been ideal, he added, with no weather incidents, plus great sun and heat having allowed the grapes to ripen slowly and gradually.

Drawing on the water supply stocked up in the soil in the spring, on the whole, the vines did not suffer from the lack of rainfall. Consequently, the grape crop was in “outstanding health”.

The first Beaujolais nouveau will be available from 15 November.

In April, it was revealed exports of Beaujolais boomed in the past year boosted by the entry-level category.

In 2017, overall exports of wine from the region rose 21% in value on volumes up 24% compared to the previous year, second only to Provence and SW France, according to BusinessFrance data.