Yes, it’s another Gamay. Deal with it. As you may know, the third Thursday in November is when Beaujolais Nouveau is released. As the name suggests, it’s the first of the current year’s Beaujolais. It’s not as big a deal among wine drinkers as it used to be, but it still happens, and people still buy it, or even pre-order it. I, obviously, didn’t. Pre-order, I mean. I did buy it. There were too many people in the shop to sneak out unnoticed, without paying.
In the glass
Purple. Also medium. Ruby. But purple. When held up to a light, it looks less purple, and more like black cherry Jell-O. Do with that information what you will.
The nose
Not really much at all. Maybe some cherries, with a hint of strawberries? The cherries are maybe morello. They’re not sweet. Just, you know, cherry-ish. What is lacking are the more ester-y smells traditionally associated with young Beaujolais – banana, bubblegum, and a general confected-ness. Then again, I’ve come across those very few times in Beaujolais. Nonetheless, they still teach that as classic Beaujolais smells in wine school.
The palate
It’s a bit lighter than expected. I’d still go with a medium body, but at the lighter end of the medium spectrum. Sour cherries again. The wine almost comes across as sweet on the palate at times. A bit confected as well.
A brief diversion here to explain that ‘confected’ is a term wine people use for sweet / artificial tastes. Think more of strawberry flavoured candy than actual strawberries.
The tannins make themselves known. They’re not excessively harsh or grippy, but they won’t be ignored.
There’s a faint hint of alcohol burn. There are, however, no prunes in evidence. Nor compote. A decently long finish, with more sour cherries. In actuality, probably sort of medium in length rather than long per se, but given it’s a Beaujolais Nouveau, that’s more than I was expecting.
That, in fact, probably sums up the wine all around for me: ‘more than I was expecting.’
Rating
Yummy overall, It’s Wine on the visuals. It’s actually not a bad wine at all. I know that sounds like faint praise, but over the years, I’ve had some Beaujolais Nouveau that seemed to barely qualify as wine. This one’s actually drinkable and fairly enjoyable.
Sustainability
Can’t find any information on the Cave de Fleurie website.
The technical info:
13.5% ABV. Gamay. £12.50 from Cambridge Wine Merchants