Just a few days ago, the third Thursday in November, was the annual new release of Beaujolais Nouveau.
Every third Thursday in November people around the globe rush to their local wines establishments to consume a glass or bottle of Beaujolais Nouveau. In Lyon France, this wine is served almost like tap water, always refilled due to how plentiful and simple this wine can be. This light coloured purple-pink wine reflecting its youth, harvested only 6–8 weeks previous shows fruity flavours such as banana, grape, strawberry, fig and pear. Beaujolais Nouveau sees no oak if not extremely limited amounts and is not meant to be aged or decanted. Serve this wine slightly chilled, out of the bottle, into the glass and down the hatch.
Beaujolais is located in the south of Burgundy and although it is officially part of Burgundy many people refer to wine either from Burgundy or Beaujolais. In Burgundy, it's either Chardonnay or Pinot Noir but in Beaujolais, it's all Gamay, or to be technically correct "Gamay Noir". This vigorous vine produces quantity over quality and makes wine that is fresh, simple and pleasurable. This is a wine that you don't have to think about, simply pour and enjoy. I like Beaujolais Nouveau because it is the first wine of the harvest and allows an insight into the season. Hot season, cool season, Beaujolais Nouveau like Punxsutawney Phil the groundhog, offers an insight into how the season tastes.
2017 was a tough year for grape growers in Burgundy because there was severe frost and hail in the spring and into the summer which destroyed some vineyards by upwards of 50%. The tragic weather that parts of Burgundy experienced in 2017 is certainly worth raising your glass to. I would pick up a bottle of Beaujolais Nouveau, toss the bottle in the freezer for 5 minutes and serve with roast chicken, veggies and scalloped potatoes. Swiss Chalet anyone?
I'd like to point out that not all Beaujolais is meant to be consumed young though. While Beaujolais Nouveau comes out on the third Thursday of each year and is meant to be consumed as quickly as possible Cru level Beaujolais is quite worthy of some ageing and seriousness. There are three levels of quality in Beaujolais
1. Beujolais AOC
2. Beujolais Villages AOC
3. Cru Beaujolais AOC
There are 10 Cru Beaujolais regions and they are pictured in the map above (click to enlarge)
1. Saint-Amour 2. Juliénas
3. Chénas
4. Moulin-à-Vent
5. Fleurie
6. Chiroubles
7. Morgon
8. Régnié,
9. Côte de Brouilly
10. Brouilly
Perhaps try a Cru level Beaujolais like a Moulin-à-Vent (one in my last vintages release top picks blog post) in comparison to the more simple and pleasurable Beaujolais or Beaujolais-Villages Nouveau.
Tonight I'm sipping the 2017 Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais-Villages Nouveau at $15.95. This Beaujolais-Villages Nouveau offers a step up from the basic Beaujolais by adding a tad more complexity but nothing I'll be focusing on too much other than the meal and conversation I'll be sipping it with takeout rotisserie chicken. Kick back and relax, this is pretty chill wine so mugs or paper cups wouldn't be too out of place. Get it while you can!
Happy Sipping,
Ryan Sullivan
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