Happy Beaujolais Nouveau Day

WINE TALK
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Its time to celebrate another harvest and get a sneak peek at what the character of the wines from that part of thr world might be like.

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Just got an email from Total WIne & More saying that the 2012 Beaujolais Nouveau is in.

Might have to pick up a few for Turkey day…

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I buy them after they’ve aged

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I didn’t know any wine geeks cared about Nov. 15 anymore. I thought Bojo Nuvo was out of fashion and everyone drank cru Bojo.

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All I know is that Bojo nouveau is what turned me off on ALL Bojos for years. When I lived in France, they’d make an enormous fuss each autumn, but the wine was awful. Hate the stuff.

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I always thought that Nouveau was meant to be drunk as a playful wine - not serious enough to be judged but more just a slightly giddy celebration of harvest. Many years ago I worked at a boutique PR agency in NYC and we would send someone out when the Nouveau arrived to grab a few bottles … work was pushed aside and we enjoyed. It was a very enjoyable ritual.

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I shall turn in my geek card.

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Quaffing the freshly made Beaujolais to celebrate the harvest
became a tradition in the bistros in the region and in Lyons. The
celebration extended out over time to Paris. Then the Brits
wanted in and the new Beaujolais made its way to the U.K. In
time North Americans became enamoured with the idea, and
that set about the shipping of the wine to these far flung
countries.

I recall Beaujolais Nouveau parties being held in Edmonton as
recently as the mid-80’s. Since that time fashion has changed
and the craze isn’t what it used to be. I know people who still
celebrate with this freshly made quaffer, which they regard as
their own tradition.

Opportunistic producers expanded volumes and the quality declined,
but there has always been some fine Beaujolais Nouveau made by
some serious producers. None of it keeps well and needs to be
consumed within 8 or 10 months.

Some people like the wine while others do not. For the latter group
it doesn’t say much for them if they choose to denigrate the wine or
those who might wish to drink it, however.

Hank [cheers.gif]

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I view Beauj Nouv the way I view Karaoke: a lot of people find it fun, but I’m definitely not one of them…

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I’ve been looking forward to it (gasp!)…time for our annual Anti-Beaujolais Nouveau Day offline tomorrow!

For the 1st 7 years, in Boston, I used to call it the “Day After Beaujolais Nouveau Day Party”, since it was always on Friday, with more than 100 attendees, but we’re bit more casual here in Philly. Just like last year, we are going to Bibou in South Philly (arguably the best restaurant in Philly), where I’m sure Pierre Calmels will prepare something special for our 8-course tasting menu. Some of the wines declared so far (still waiting on 3 of 10 attendees):

2010 Domaine des Terres Dorées (Jean-Paul Brun) Beaujolais Blanc
2008 Jean-Marc Burgaud Morgon Côte du Py “Réserve”
2009 Domaine de Chapelle des Bois Fleurie (1.5L)
2009 Yvon Métras Fleurie L’Ultime
2009 Thibault Liger-Belair Moulin-à-Vent La Roche
2009 Domaine des Terres Dorées (Jean-Paul Brun) Moulin-à-Vent
2009 Louis Jadot Moulin-à-Vent Château des Jacques
2011 Marcel Lapierre Morgon (1.5L)

And of course, 1 bottle of:
2012 Georges Dubœuf Beaujolais Nouveau

Le Beaujolais Nouveau est Arrivé! [cheers.gif]

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I love Beaujolais Nouveau Day. [cheers.gif] It’s a fun tradition and a fun wine. It is a pleasant way to celebrate the vintage and the harvest in general, and it is a great gateway to Thanksgiving.

If anything, I think the Bojo Novos have increased in quality lately, and there is such choice now, not just the ubiquitous Dubœuf: Drouhin, Bouchard, Bichot, Mommsen, as well as small estate bottlings, even Beaujolais Villages Nouveau. And while I would not recommend aging them, they can surprise. Three of us cracked open a bottle of '09 Vissoux Bojo Novo last summer, and for being almost three years old, and thus long into senescence, it was amazingly elegant and alive.

Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrivé? Très bien! [highfive.gif]

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So far, not ONE person has asked for any. We don’t sell it anyway but I have been tracking demand for a few years and it’s way off around here.

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God I hate the term “Bojo”. Foillard makes a pretty good nouveau.

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Yeah, Georges Duboeuf. He’s the one that killed, from what I’ve heard.

Some people like the wine while others do not. For the latter group
it doesn’t say much for them if they choose to > denigrate the wine > or
those who might wish to drink it, however.

Hank > [cheers.gif]

Denigrate the drinkers, never, denigrate the wine, you shouldn’t have a problem with. We’re talking about tastes here, after all. (that’s my whine for the day)

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Kevin, your geek credentials are safe.

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I had no idea. Now that is a wine Id love to try

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Berry, you’re a die-hard Franco-traditionalist! [cheers.gif]

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Sorry, Peter, but I still have a problem with anyone going out
of the way to slam a wine that may appeal to others. Essentially
you are defending such using personal preference as just cause.

Let’s say, for example, that I don’t happen to like heavy Brett in my Chateauneuf-du-Pape
but I know others may find that characteristic appealing. I don’t believe
it would be appropriate for me to make such a comment and I find it easier
to respect someone else’s preferences.

It would be a particularly dreary wine world if everyone was cued to
express only negatives…but you’re suggesting it would be alright.
Is that your message?

Hank [cheers.gif]

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lots of top wine merchants are heavily discounting once very popular Beaujolais Nouveau…out of fashion among the anti-insipid wine elites