It’s that time of year – the Beaujolais Nouveau is here! While this annual release is no longer the novelty it once was, it’s still cause for celebration, and this year’s vintage is tres, tres bon (very, very good). Being in the biz, I got a bottle of the Dubouef early and was eager to taste it. The wine is called Beaujolais Nouveau because it is the growing season’s “new” wine, fermented for just a few weeks before being bottled and shipped around the world for its official release date is “Beaujolais Nouveau Day” – the third Thursday of November (11-16-23 this year). Beaujolais is made with the Gamay grape, noted for its fruit-forward, low-tannin characteristics. The 2023 Nouveau is fresh and lovely, with bright red fruit notes on the nose and the palate. It sings with cherry, raspberry, and strawberry while drinking nice and dry and smooth. Beaujolais Nouveau’s light fruitiness makes it a favorite for Thanksgiving, as it holds its own without overwhelming or compromising the variety of flavors on anyone’s Thanksgiving table. I highly recommend this year’s vintage. Salut et bon appetit!
