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.
Refine
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.
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.
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
curatedComparable weight, freshness and food-friendliness.
- Keeps the bright red-fruited character.
Gamay
Both are made from gamay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
- Keeps the bright red-fruited character.
Langhe Nebbiolo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
- Keeps the bright red-fruited character.
Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
- Keeps the bright red-fruited character.
Red Burgundy
curatedThe classic upgrade path, from Pinot’s offspring to Pinot itself.
- Keeps the bright red-fruited character.
Barbera
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
- Keeps the bright red-fruited character.
Pinot Meunier
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- Keeps the bright red-fruited character.
Cerasuolo di Vittoria
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the bright red-fruited character.
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
curatedComparable weight, freshness and food-friendliness.
Expect: Leafier and more graphite-edged.
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 more aromatic, and more fruit-driven.
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 more tannic and structured.
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 more oaky.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Loire Cabernet Franc
curatedComparable weight, freshness and food-friendliness.
Expect: Leafier and more graphite-edged.
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 more tannic and structured.
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 more oaky.
Barbera
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
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 the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Valpolicella
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less floral.
Frappato
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
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 more restrained in fruit.
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
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more restrained in fruit.
Loureiro
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less tannic and softer.
Moschofilero
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less tannic and softer.
Mantinia Moschofilero
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less tannic and softer.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
Barbera d’Asti
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and less floral.
Rosso di Montalcino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and less floral.
Graciano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
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.
Similar but less tannic
For readers who find firm reds drying. Reduces tannic grip while holding flavour and weight roughly steady.
Barbera
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
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 more aromatic, and more fruit-driven.
Pinot Meunier
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and less oaky.
Barbera d’Asti
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and less floral.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
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 more restrained in fruit, and fresher and more acidic.
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 more savoury.
Mondeuse Noire
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and less floral.
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 more restrained in fruit, and more tannic and structured.
Similar but fresher
Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.
Barbera
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
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 more tannic and structured, and more savoury.
Loire Cabernet Franc
curatedComparable weight, freshness and food-friendliness.
Expect: Leafier and more graphite-edged.
Mondeuse Noire
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and less floral.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and fuller and richer.
Southern Rhône blend
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and fuller and richer.
Languedoc red
Both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and fuller and richer.
Alentejo red
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and fuller and richer.
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 stiller, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stiller, and sweeter.
Sparkling Shiraz
Sparkling Shiraz scores closest to Cru Beaujolais across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and fruitier.
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
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 more sparkling, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and more sparkling.
Rondo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and less floral.
Dornfelder
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
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.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more sparkling, and sweeter.
Mondeuse Noire
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and less floral.
Pinot Meunier
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and less tannic and softer.
Frappato
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
Barbera
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less floral.
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 less oaky, and fresher and more acidic.
Oregon Pinot Noir
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fresher and more acidic.
Red Burgundy
curatedThe classic upgrade path, from Pinot’s offspring to Pinot itself.
Expect: More earthy complexity and perfume, at several times the price.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
Barbaresco
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and fuller and richer.
Nebbiolo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and fuller and richer.
Barolo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and fuller and richer.
Moschofilero
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more aromatic.
Similar but more restrained
For readers who find intensely aromatic wines tiring over a whole glass. Keeps the structure, turns the volume down.
Gavi
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and lighter.
Cortese
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and lighter.
Seyval Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and lighter.
Pinot Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and more restrained in fruit.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
Frappato
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Uco Valley Malbec
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and fuller and richer.
Négrette
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Loureiro
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less tannic and softer.
Similar but less floral
Some drinkers read floral aromatics as soapy or perfumed. This holds the structure and removes them.
Australian Pinot Noir
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and less floral.
Barbera
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Barbera d’Asti
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and less floral.
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, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
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 more restrained in fruit, and fresher and more acidic.
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 more tannic and structured.
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 more restrained in fruit, and more tannic and structured.
Nerello Mascalese
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and fresher and more acidic.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
Barbera d’Alba
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
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 broader and softer, and fruitier.
Washington Cabernet Sauvignon
Washington Cabernet Sauvignon scores closest to Cru Beaujolais across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and fruitier.
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.
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.
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, and softer and rounder.
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 softer and rounder, 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 fuller and richer, and broader and softer.
Same grape, warmer climate
Typically riper, fuller and more generous in fruit, with higher alcohol.
Morgon
Both are made from gamay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and broader and softer.
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 fresher and more acidic, 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, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
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.
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 more aromatic, and more fruit-driven.
Barbera
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Oregon Pinot Noir
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more oaky.
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, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
Loire Cabernet Franc
curatedComparable weight, freshness and food-friendliness.
Expect: Leafier and more graphite-edged.
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 more tannic and structured.
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 more oaky.
Pinot Meunier
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and less tannic 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.
Loire Cabernet Franc
curatedComparable weight, freshness and food-friendliness.
Expect: Leafier and more graphite-edged.
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 more tannic and structured.
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 more oaky.
Pinot Meunier
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and less tannic and softer.
A step up
The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.
Chianti Classico
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 more restrained in fruit.
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 fuller and richer.
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 fuller and richer, and fruitier.
Brunello di Montalcino
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and fuller and richer.
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.