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.

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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, the bright red-fruited character and the fresh, crisp acidity, while moving away from too floral or soapy and too alcoholic or warming.

You said you like the floral, perfumed side and that it is too floral or soapy. Both are about floral character, 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.

Loire Cabernet Franc

curated

Comparable weight, freshness and food-friendliness.

Has some of the floral, perfumed side, though less of it.
Keeps the bright red-fruited character.
Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
Substantially less floral or soapy.
About as alcoholic or warming as the wine you started from.

Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

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

Has some of the floral, perfumed side, though less of it.
Keeps the bright red-fruited character.
Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
Substantially less floral or soapy.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.

Oregon Pinot Noir

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

Has some of the floral, perfumed side, though less of it.
Keeps the bright red-fruited character.
Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
Substantially less floral or soapy.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.

Gamay

Both are made from gamay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

Has some of the floral, perfumed side, though less of it.
Keeps the bright red-fruited character.
Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
Substantially less floral or soapy.
About as alcoholic or warming as the wine you started from.

Etna Rosso

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

Has some of the floral, perfumed side, though less of it.
Keeps the bright red-fruited character.
Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
Substantially less floral or soapy.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.

Bierzo Mencía

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

Has some of the floral, perfumed side, though less of it.
Has some of the bright red-fruited character, though less of it.
Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
Substantially less floral or soapy.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.

Mencía

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

Has some of the floral, perfumed side, though less of it.
Has some of the bright red-fruited character, though less of it.
Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
Substantially less floral or soapy.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.

Naoussa Xinomavro

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

Has some of the floral, perfumed side, though less of it.
Keeps the bright red-fruited character.
Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
Substantially less floral or soapy.
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.

Loire Cabernet Franc

curated

Comparable weight, freshness and food-friendliness.

Expect: Leafier and more graphite-edged.

Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

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.

Oregon Pinot Noir

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

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

Gamay

Both are made from gamay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

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

Different grape, similar feel

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

Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

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.

Oregon Pinot Noir

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

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

Etna Rosso

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.

Bierzo Mencía

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

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.

Beaujolais

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 in alcohol, and lighter.

Cinsault

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

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

English still Pinot Noir

English still Pinot Noir scores closest to Cru Beaujolais across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Valpolicella

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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.

English still Pinot Noir

English still Pinot Noir scores closest to Cru Beaujolais across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

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 in alcohol, and more aromatic.

Beaujolais

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 in alcohol, and lighter.

Loire Cabernet Franc

curated

Comparable weight, freshness and food-friendliness.

Expect: Leafier and more graphite-edged.

Similar but fuller

Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.

Northern Rhône Syrah

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

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and broader and softer.

Washington Syrah

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

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and broader and softer.

Australian Grenache

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

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, 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 fuller and richer, and broader and softer.

Similar but less tannic

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

Gamay

Both are made from gamay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

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

Pinot Meunier

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Barbera

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

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

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 fresher and more acidic.

Similar but more structured

More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.

Naoussa Xinomavro

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.

Xinomavro

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

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

Etna Rosso

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.

Langhe Nebbiolo

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.

Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

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.

Oregon Pinot Noir

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

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

Etna Rosso

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.

Naoussa Xinomavro

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.

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 softer and rounder, and broader and softer.

Malbec

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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 softer and rounder.

Jumilla Monastrell

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

The sparkling version

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

Lambrusco

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

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

Lambrusco Grasparossa

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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.

Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore

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

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

Similar but sweeter

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

Lambrusco

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

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

Tinta Negra

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Tinto Cão

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Lambrusco Grasparossa

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, 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.

Jaen

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

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

Pinot Meunier

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Graciano

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Frühburgunder

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.

Northern Rhône Syrah

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

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

Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

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.

Washington Syrah

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

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

Oregon Pinot Noir

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

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

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 more floral.

Barolo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Barbaresco

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Torrontés

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more floral, 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.

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.

Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

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.

Oregon Pinot Noir

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

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

Etna Rosso

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.

Bierzo Mencía

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 floral

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

Uco Valley Malbec

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

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

Frappato

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

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

Négrette

Both come from the same country.

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

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.

Similar but less floral

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

Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

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.

Oregon Pinot Noir

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

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

Gamay

Both are made from gamay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

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

Etna Rosso

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 more savoury

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

Red Burgundy

curated

The classic upgrade path, from Pinot’s offspring to Pinot itself.

Expect: More earthy complexity and perfume, at several times the price.

Naoussa Xinomavro

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.

Xinomavro

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

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

Etna Rosso

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 fruitier

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

Zinfandel

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

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

Petite Sirah

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

Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and fuller and richer.

Barbera d’Alba

Both sit in the same style family.

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

California Pinot Noir

Both sit in the same style family.

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

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

Gamay

Both are made from gamay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

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

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 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 fuller and richer.

Gamay

Both are made from gamay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

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

Beaujolais

Both are made from gamay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, 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.

Oregon Pinot Noir

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

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

Gamay

Both are made from gamay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

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

Beaujolais

Both are made from gamay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

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

Northern Rhône 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 in alcohol.

Something more adventurous

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

Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

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.

Etna Rosso

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.

Bierzo Mencía

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

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

Mencía

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

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

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.

Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

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.

Etna Rosso

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.

Bierzo Mencía

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

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

Mencía

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

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

A step up

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

Northern Rhône Syrah

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

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

Chianti Classico

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

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

New Zealand Pinot Noir

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 in alcohol.

Red Bordeaux

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.

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.