We should do something for the maligned third thursday of November, a day sadly adorned with a phrase of its very own: “Le Beaujolais nouveau est arrivé!” What it should be is the announcement of Beaujolais Awareness Week. I suppose I’m a little late, but perhaps it’s better late than never to propose this swift and orderly change.
On Wednesday night I started my celebration a little early popping the cork on a 2010 Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau*. I was immediately met with a Willy Wonka confection of strawberry Pez and raspberry Kool-Aid—an alcoholic juice, quite literally, intense and full of grapey fruit that reminded me of Riunite Lambrusco without the sweet fizz.
I drank the whole bottle. I don’t ever waste juice (barring extenuating circumstances, the takeover of American civilization by George Soros and the second coming of Christ being examples.)
On Thursday I broke the wax seal on a bottle of 2007 Marcel Lapierre Morgon. A nose full of violets and cherry, and on my tongue a demure mineral fruit with a belated burst of fresh raspberry that lingered like an abrupt childhood memory. This is what makes me downright butt-ass-naked nasty about wine, which usually makes social interactions awkward really quick. (I swear I’m not crazy.)
Last night I opened a bottle of 2008 Chateau de la Chaize Brouilly. This had a strong concentration of ripe southernly fruit, cherry and a touch of roses, I get a little bit of a coffee earthiness on the finish. This Cru has been called the “feminine side of Beaujolais,” which I don’t honestly see. Perhaps more boyish if compared to the meaty wines of Rhone to the south, but I don’t know, it’s not like I’m a sommelier or anything.
I hope to fit in another Beaujolais Cru before all is said and done, but I wanna know how do you plan on celebrating the rest of this first (sort of) official Beaujolais Awareness Week?
