Nightcap 9: Blackthorn by the Glass: Mary Taylor Beaujolais

Welcome back to another Nightcap episode of Renegade: A Blackthorn Podcast. In our Blackthorn by the Glass series, we invite you into our virtual cellar for a deep dive into one featured bottle. Think of it as your chance to sit around the table, glass in hand, and learn the story behind a wine that deserves a spot in your rotation.

This week’s pour: the 2021 Mary Taylor Beaujolais Villages, a bottle that proves great wine doesn’t need to be complicated, expensive, or snobby.

Why Beaujolais Matters

Our September theme—Back to Blackthorn—is about stripping wine down to the essentials and reclaiming the joy of drinking. And few grapes capture that spirit better than Gamay, the signature grape of Beaujolais.

Gamay is often described as Pinot Noir’s more approachable cousin. It’s juicy, versatile, and endlessly food-friendly, with a playful energy sommeliers often call their “secret weapon.” If you’ve never given Gamay a proper chance, this is your invitation.

Beaujolais itself sits at the southern edge of Burgundy. But unlike Burgundy’s reputation for formality, Beaujolais wine is laid-back, rebellious, and refreshingly unpretentious. It’s the kind of region that makes wine less about ceremony and more about pleasure.

There are three quality levels in the region:

• Beaujolais – the broadest category

• Beaujolais Villages – more defined, representing wines from select villages

• Cru Beaujolais – the top tier, where village names like Morgon or Fleurie shine

The bottle we’re sipping today—a Beaujolais Villages—hits that sweet spot of accessibility, character, and a true sense of place.

The Story Behind the Bottle

Every wine has a story, but this one is really the story of two women shaping Beaujolais for today.

Mary Taylor

Mary Taylor spent decades in the wine trade and saw a gap: the everyday European wines she adored—authentic, village-level bottles from small growers—rarely made it to American shelves. What we got instead were either cheap brand wines or intimidating prestige labels.

Her mission with Mary Taylor Wines is to bridge that gap. She champions responsible growers, regionally distinctive wines, and fair pricing—wines you’ll want to open on a Tuesday, not just save for a holiday. Each bottle carries a simple white label featuring the grower’s name and village, making European wine more approachable and transparent.

Marine Descombes

The winemaker here is Marine Descombes, the fifth generation in her family’s Beaujolais estate, founded in 1905. Stepping into leadership before age 30, she represents both tradition and transformation. As a young woman in a region still dominated by older generations, Marine brings fresh energy and a willingness to innovate while honoring her roots.

Together, Mary and Marine bring us a bottle that’s rooted in history but fully alive in the present.

Tasting Notes – 2021 Mary Taylor Beaujolais Villages

This Gamay is everything we love about Beaujolais:

• Aromas: Strawberry, cassis, and a subtle earthy undertone

• Palate: Light-bodied but concentrated, with blackberry bramble, spice, and a silky texture

• Style: High acid, low tannins—making it incredibly versatile with food

Beaujolais Food Pairing Ideas

One of the reasons sommeliers love Gamay is how flexible it is at the table. A few pairings to try:

• Classic: Charcuterie boards, roast chicken, or pork chops

• Unexpected: Salmon, sushi, or leafy salads (yes, red wine with fish!)

• Seasonal: Thanksgiving turkey and stuffing—an underrated holiday MVP

• Casual: Burgers, Buffalo wings, or even nachos

Because Beaujolais doesn’t take itself too seriously, neither should you. This is a wine that moves easily from weeknight dinners to festive gatherings.

The Ritual of Beaujolais

At Blackthorn, we believe wine pairs with more than food—it pairs with mood, ritual, and season.

This Beaujolais Villages belongs to early fall evenings, when the air is crisp, notebooks and candles are scattered across the table, and you’re leaning into sweater weather. It’s a wine that pairs with music that grooves (think late-70s funk), with ideas taking shape in the margins of a dog-eared paperback, and with laughter spilling over into long conversations.

It’s playful, a little messy, and reminds us that pleasure doesn’t need an occasion.

Bring This Bottle Home

The 2021 Mary Taylor Beaujolais Villages is available in The Blackthorn Cellar for $24. But if you’re a Blackthorn insider, you already know the secret: each month, we send out a new password to our mailing list that unlocks special discounts and featured products in our shop.

👉 Join the Blackthorn mailing list to get the password and access the hidden cellar.