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Wines like Cru Beaujolais

Gamay from the ten named granite hills — structured, mineral and ageworthy, and nothing like Beaujolais Nouveau. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.

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What do you like about Cru Beaujolais?

Optional — the results below already work without it. But “I like Malbec” is at least four different preferences wearing one name, and saying which one you mean changes the answer substantially. Only qualities this wine actually has are offered.

I like…

The bright red fruit How fresh and crisp it is The floral character

But it’s a bit…

too tart or sour-fruited too alcoholic or warming too light or thin too sharp or acidic too floral or soapy too earthy or musty

Clear all

What these words mean

The bright red fruit: Raspberry, redcurrant, sour cherry — lighter and sharper than dark fruit, usually from a cooler place or an earlier picking.
How fresh and crisp it is: Acidity is what makes your mouth water and makes a wine feel refreshing rather than heavy. It is the single most useful thing to know about your own taste.
That it is not too strong: Alcohol you notice as warmth at the back of the throat. Some people find it a pleasant part of a big red and some find it tiring.
How light it is: A wine you can drink without it feeling like a commitment. Usually lower in alcohol as well as lighter in the mouth.
The floral character: Rose, violet, elderflower, orange blossom.
The earthy, mineral side: Forest floor, wet stone, mushroom, damp earth. Widely described and much less well explained than wine writing implies — the sensation is real, the causal story usually is not.

Looking for something keeping the floral, perfumed side, while moving away from too tart or sour-fruited, too sharp or acidic and too alcoholic or warming.

Based on what you said

Ranked against the qualities you named rather than against the wine as a whole. The directions below are refined the same way.

Dão

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Keeps the floral, perfumed side.
A little less tart or sour-fruited.
A little less sharp or acidic.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.

Australian Grenache

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Keeps the floral, perfumed side.
A little less tart or sour-fruited.
A little less sharp or acidic.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.

Grenache

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Has noticeably less of the floral, perfumed side.
Substantially less tart or sour-fruited.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.

Négrette

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Keeps the floral, perfumed side.
A little less tart or sour-fruited.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.

Malbec

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Has some of the floral, perfumed side, though less of it.
Substantially less tart or sour-fruited.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.

Hawke’s Bay Syrah

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.

Keeps the floral, perfumed side.
A little less tart or sour-fruited.
A little less sharp or acidic.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.

Cahors

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Has some of the floral, perfumed side, though less of it.
Substantially less tart or sour-fruited.
A little less sharp or acidic.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.

Argentine Malbec

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Keeps the floral, perfumed side.
A little less tart or sour-fruited.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.

Closest overall

Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.

Closest matches

The nearest overall neighbours across structure and flavour, with no deliberate change of direction.

Dão

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and lighter in alcohol.

Australian Grenache

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and fruitier.

Grenache

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.

Négrette

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and broader and softer.

Different grape, similar feel

Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.

Dão

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and lighter in alcohol.

Australian Grenache

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and fruitier.

Grenache

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.

Négrette

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and broader and softer.

Change the structure

Same idea, different weight, grip or freshness.

Similar but lighter

Keeps the character but reduces weight, alcohol and density in the mouth.

Cinsault

Both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

Portugieser

Portugieser scores closest to Cru Beaujolais across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

Schiava

Schiava scores closest to Cru Beaujolais across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

Beaujolais

Both are made from gamay, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

Similar but lower in alcohol

Holds the character and the weight where it can, and moves specifically on strength. Note that below about 11% the choices narrow sharply, and below 5% they are mostly a different category rather than a lighter version of the same one.

Nothing in WineHQ's catalogue makes this move meaningfully from here. These are the closest wines otherwise, but do not expect them to deliver what you asked for — the honest answer is that this style does not have a good neighbour in that direction.

Australian Grenache

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and fresher and more acidic.

Dão

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and fresher and more acidic.

Malbec

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and broader and softer.

Argentine Malbec

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and fruitier.

Similar but fuller

Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.

Grenache

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.

Australian Grenache

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and fruitier.

Malbec

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and fruitier.

Argentine Malbec

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and fruitier.

Similar but less tannic

For readers who find firm reds drying. Reduces tannic grip while holding flavour and weight roughly steady.

Tinta Negra

Tinta Negra scores closest to Cru Beaujolais across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.

Barbera d’Alba

Both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and less floral.

Gamay

Both are made from gamay, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and fresher.

Cinsault

Both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

Similar but more structured

More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.

Dão

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and lighter in alcohol.

Petit Verdot

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and fresher and more acidic.

Malbec

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and fruitier.

Hawke’s Bay Syrah

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and lighter in alcohol.

Similar but fresher

Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.

Langhe Nebbiolo

Both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and fresher.

Graciano

Graciano scores closest to Cru Beaujolais across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and fresher.

Etna Rosso

Both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and fresher.

Naoussa Xinomavro

Both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and fresher.

Similar but softer

Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.

Grenache

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.

Malbec

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and fruitier.

Argentine Malbec

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and broader and softer.

Syrah

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.

The sparkling version

Moves to a sparkling expression while holding the flavour and weight as close as possible.

Sparkling Shiraz

Sparkling Shiraz scores closest to Cru Beaujolais across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fruitier.

Lambrusco

Lambrusco scores closest to Cru Beaujolais across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and fresher.

Lambrusco Grasparossa

Lambrusco Grasparossa scores closest to Cru Beaujolais across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and lighter in alcohol.

Glera

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

Similar but sweeter

Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.

Touriga Franca

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and fresher and more acidic.

Touriga Nacional

Touriga Nacional scores closest to Cru Beaujolais across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fresher and more acidic.

Tinta Barroca

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.

Vin Doux Naturel

Both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fruitier.

Change the flavour

Same shape, different aromatic character.

Similar but less oaky

One of the commonest requests in wine. Strips oak influence while holding grape character and weight.

Négrette

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and broader and softer.

Canaiolo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and broader and softer.

Jaen

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and lighter.

Tinta Barroca

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

Malbec

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and fruitier.

Hawke’s Bay Syrah

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and lighter in alcohol.

Argentine Malbec

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and broader and softer.

Tempranillo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.

Similar but more aromatic

More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.

Nebbiolo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and lighter in alcohol.

Barolo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and lighter in alcohol.

Barbaresco

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and lighter in alcohol.

Malagousia

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and broader and softer.

Similar but more restrained

For readers who find intensely aromatic wines tiring over a whole glass. Keeps the structure, turns the volume down.

Grenache

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.

Cahors

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and lighter in alcohol.

Northern Rhône Syrah

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and lighter in alcohol.

Washington Syrah

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and fruitier.

Similar but more floral

Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.

Négrette

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and lighter in alcohol.

Uco Valley Malbec

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and fresher and more acidic.

Touriga Nacional

Touriga Nacional scores closest to Cru Beaujolais across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and fruitier.

Frappato

Frappato scores closest to Cru Beaujolais across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

Similar but less floral

Some drinkers read floral aromatics as soapy or perfumed. This holds the structure and removes them.

Grenache

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.

Malbec

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.

Syrah

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.

Cahors

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.

Similar but more savoury

Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.

Cahors

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and lighter in alcohol.

Barolo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and lighter in alcohol.

Dão

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and lighter in alcohol.

Mourvèdre

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.

Similar but fruitier

More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.

Argentine Malbec

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and broader and softer.

Zinfandel

Zinfandel scores closest to Cru Beaujolais across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and less floral.

Primitivo

Primitivo scores closest to Cru Beaujolais across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and broader and softer.

Primitivo di Manduria

Primitivo di Manduria scores closest to Cru Beaujolais across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and broader and softer.

Change the place

Keep the grape, move it somewhere else.

Same grape, cooler climate

Typically fresher, lighter and more herbal, with lower alcohol.

Beaujolais

Both are made from gamay, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fresher and more acidic.

Morgon

Both are made from gamay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and less floral.

Gamay

Both are made from gamay, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and lighter in alcohol.

Same grape, warmer climate

Typically riper, fuller and more generous in fruit, with higher alcohol.

Morgon

Both are made from gamay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.

Gamay

Both are made from gamay, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and lighter.

Change the mood

Safer, stranger, cheaper or more serious.

A safe next step

Well-known wines that are widely available and unlikely to surprise anyone.

Grenache

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.

Malbec

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and fruitier.

Argentine Malbec

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and broader and softer.

Syrah

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.

Something more adventurous

Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.

Dão

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and lighter in alcohol.

Australian Grenache

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and fruitier.

Négrette

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and broader and softer.

Hawke’s Bay Syrah

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and lighter in alcohol.

A better-value alternative

Wines that occupy similar sensory territory from regions carrying less price premium. WineHQ does not hold live prices, so this reasons from regional reputation and demand rather than from a price feed — treat it as a lead, not a quote.

Dão

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and lighter in alcohol.

Australian Grenache

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and fruitier.

Négrette

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and broader and softer.

Hawke’s Bay Syrah

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and lighter in alcohol.

A step up

The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.

Syrah

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.

Northern Rhône Syrah

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and lighter in alcohol.

Nebbiolo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and lighter in alcohol.

Barolo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and lighter in alcohol.

How these are chosen

Each suggestion is scored across sixteen taste dimensions, weighted so that structure matters more than flavour, and adjusted for whether the wine actually moves in the direction you asked for. Curated links from an editor carry extra weight — but only when the editor tagged them for this direction. Nothing here is a black box; see the taste model for the full method.