If you like this, try…

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.

← Back to Cru Beaujolais

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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 bright red-fruited character, while moving away from too floral or soapy, too light or thin, too earthy or musty and too alcoholic or warming.

You said you like the bright red-fruited character and that it is too light or thin. Both are about body, so they pull the same axis in opposite directions — the dislike is applied and the like is set aside.

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.

Grenache

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

Has noticeably less of the bright red-fruited character.
Substantially less floral or soapy.
Substantially less light or thin.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.

Barbera d’Asti

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

Keeps the bright red-fruited character.
Substantially less floral or soapy.
Substantially less light or thin.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.

Rosso di Montalcino

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

Keeps the bright red-fruited character.
Substantially less floral or soapy.
Substantially less light or thin.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.

Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Has noticeably less of the bright red-fruited character.
Substantially less floral or soapy.
Substantially less light or thin.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.

Shiraz

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Has noticeably less of the bright red-fruited character.
Substantially less floral or soapy.
Substantially less light or thin.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.

McLaren Vale Shiraz

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Has noticeably less of the bright red-fruited character.
Substantially less floral or soapy.
Substantially less light or thin.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.

Washington Cabernet Sauvignon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Has some of the bright red-fruited character, though less of it.
Substantially less floral or soapy.
Substantially less light or thin.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Has noticeably less of the bright red-fruited character.
Substantially less floral or soapy.
Substantially less light or thin.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
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.

Grenache

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

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

Barbera d’Asti

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

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

Rosso di Montalcino

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

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

Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Different grape, similar feel

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

Grenache

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

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

Barbera d’Asti

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

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

Rosso di Montalcino

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

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

Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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.

Beaujolais

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

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

Valpolicella

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

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

Cinsault

Both come from the same country.

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

Molinara

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

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.

Barbera d’Asti

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 lighter.

Rosso di Montalcino

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 lighter.

Gamay

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

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

Pinot Meunier

Both come from the same country.

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

Similar but fuller

Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.

Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Shiraz

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

McLaren Vale Shiraz

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but less tannic

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

Barbera d’Alba

Both sit in the same style family.

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

Barbera d’Asti

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

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

Barbera

Both sit in the same style family.

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

Gamay

Both are made from gamay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, 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.

Petite Sirah

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Montefalco Sagrantino

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Sagrantino

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Rosso di Montalcino

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

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

Similar but fresher

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

Barbera d’Asti

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

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

Rosso di Montalcino

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

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

Graciano

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Barbera

Both sit in the same style family.

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

Similar but softer

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

Grenache

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

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

Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Shiraz

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

McLaren Vale Shiraz

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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 broader and softer, and less floral.

Lambrusco

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

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

Lambrusco Grasparossa

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

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

Grenache

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

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

Similar but sweeter

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

Vin Doux Naturel

Both come from the same country.

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

Port

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

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

Late Bottled Vintage Port

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Vintage Port

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

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

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.

Refosco

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Graciano

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Bobal

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Cornalin

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

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

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Shiraz

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Super Tuscan

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but more aromatic

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

Nebbiolo

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

Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and lighter.

Barolo

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

Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and lighter.

Barbaresco

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

Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and lighter.

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 lighter.

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 broader and softer, and lighter.

Barbera d’Asti

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

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

Rosso di Montalcino

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

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

Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but more floral

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

Touriga Nacional

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

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

Uco Valley Malbec

Uco Valley Malbec scores closest to Cru Beaujolais across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Négrette

Both come from the same country.

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

Frappato

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

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

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 broader and softer, and less floral.

Barbera d’Asti

Both sit in the same style family.

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

Rosso di Montalcino

Both sit in the same style family.

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

Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon scores closest to Cru Beaujolais across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Similar but more savoury

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

Chianti Classico

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

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

Montefalco Sagrantino

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Baga

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Bairrada Baga

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but fruitier

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

Petite Sirah

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Primitivo

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

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

Zinfandel

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

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

Primitivo di Manduria

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

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

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 lighter in alcohol.

Gamay

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

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

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 lighter, and less floral.

Gamay

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

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.

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 broader and softer, and lighter.

Shiraz

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Amarone della Valpolicella

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Something more adventurous

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

Barbera d’Asti

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

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

Rosso di Montalcino

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

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

Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

McLaren Vale Shiraz

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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.

Barbera d’Asti

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

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

Rosso di Montalcino

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

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

Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

McLaren Vale Shiraz

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

A step up

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

Amarone della Valpolicella

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Chianti Classico

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

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

Ribera del Duero

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Syrah

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

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

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.