Thursday, November 16, 2006

2006 Beaujolais Nouveau

One Fall sometime ago, I was introduced to this wine, not this producer, but to the wines and region of Beaujolais. There is a particular variety of grapes produced in the granite soil here that is found nowhere else, so I am told. I am not an expert by any means, but have aquired a taste for this oaky red wine which seems to be a wonderful companion to many foods that I enjoy.
For the last couple of years, I have marked my calendar and when the 16th or 17th of November rolled in, I was rolling out of my drive to the local wine store. Desparate to be the first in line, I never was! I have tried to keep this a secret in my little town as long as possble, but the "wine" got out! Last year one "piggie man" bought up practically the entire allotment of the Duboeuf. I was cursing under my breath and hoped he would hang on to a few bottles of this Nouveau , thinking they would age nicely, (not this wine, you drink it promptly) and then maybe next year he would not be so greedy or eager to buy..... .. I just wanted a few bottles to have for the holidays.......goes so nicely with turkey and beef.
Whatever you may have heard about this wine and all the hoopla that goes on in France when it is allowed to be sold, is hoopla for a reason. There is much history behind this Nouveau wine. It goes all the way back to the invention of the cork and the fresh wines that were instead, poured into casks. No corks, then it had to be drunk fairly quickly. Today it is still made hastily in order to be sold as quickly. This is not a wine you buy to store and keep for months at a time. Six months are probably pushing its expiration..... This is an inexpensive wine and has been chosen by many local bistros in the region of Beaujolais as a great table wine. And one more thing. ....a "good "bottle of Beaujolais can survive and mature for a long time. Try some, you may enjoy!

5 comments:

Sophie François said...

Fun, my dad always bought some Georges Duboeuf beaujolais when I was a child. I didn't taste it today. Wait and see...

wheresmymind said...

I LOVE that Beaujolais!

Unknown said...

Yes, the new Beaujolais could not come out at a better time. We have always served it with our traditional TG dish, which we are forsaking this year for ham. I am pretty sure I've still got some GDB from last year, too.

Such a festivbe label!

Jann said...

It is a festive wine,isn't it! Hope you all get to taste some....

Christine said...

The Nouveau wasn't in our local wine store today. I'll check again tomorrow. I love this wine and enjoy serving it at Thanksgiving.