Countdown to Beaujolais

SALUTÉ Beaujolais releases the following spring. And that brings us to Beaujolais wines that can be cellared for longer than six months. DRINK “People who are familiar with only Beaujolais Nouveau are surprised and sometimes confused when they see a Beaujolais-Villages or a Countdown to Cru Beaujolais,” says wine TASTING NOTES consultant Heather Hitson. DEFINED “They think all Beaujolais is more body than a the same, but it’s not.” 2018 Nouveau. The VINTAGE Beaujolais Day Beaujolais-Villages can be The year that grapes BEAUJOLAIS-VILLAGES cellared for a couple of years, were grown is the vintage. For slightly more money, especially if it’s a good vintage, For vintage-dated wines Just in time for Thanksgiving, the new vintage of made in the U.S., 95 Beaujolais-Villages is the next as 2014 was. If the vintage year Chénas, Chiroubles, Côte de percent of the wine must Beaujolais Nouveau will be released Nov. 21. quality level for Beaujolais is highly rated, you can cellar Brouilly, Fleurie, Julienas, come from grapes that wines. In the Burgundy the wine a little longer. Morgon, Moulin-a-Vent, were grown and picked STORY: MARY ANN DESANTIS region, there are 35 villages Both Beaujolais Nouveau Régnié and Saint-Amour. in the stated calendar that consistently produce and Beaujolais-Villages should Interestingly, grapes grown in year. In the Southern Hemisphere, where the better wines. Most Beaujolais- be served slightly chilled, these villages cannot be used grapes may grow in the n the United Christmas. The $8-$10 bottles retailers in a matter of weeks Villages are blends of wines which brings out the fruit to make Beaujolais Nouveau. year preceding a February States, the and colorful labels beckon after the grapes are picked. from these towns or villages, and the acidity. Crus are much more or March harvest, the fourth Thursday buyers who are trying to nd Some California wineries hence the reason that no complex with more fruit and vintage date refers to the of November is a big a budget-friendly wine gift. label their wines “Gamay particular name is included on CRU BEAUJOLAIS tannins. Some can be held for year of harvest. In France’s Beaujolais region, the day for Americans, The most important thing Beaujolais,” but it is not the label. Typically, Beaujolais- The crème de la crème of years depending on the quality 2015 vintage is considered but it is the third to remember is Beaujolais the same grape variety as Villages can be stored between French Beaujolais is a Cru, and vintage. They are often close to perfection for Thursday that the Nouveau is meant to be France’s, and the taste is one and three years. which is named for the village compared to an expensive Cru Beaujolais wines, French celebrate with consumed within weeks. much di erent. Last year, I tasted a 2014 that produces it. Beaujolais Côte du Rhone in taste. according to beaujolais.com reworks, music and Simply put, it’s not a wine to Beaujolais Nouveau wines Jadot Beaujolais-Villages that wines from these 10 areas are Cru Beaujolais is considered more than 120 Beaujolais save for Christmas 2020—or are young, meaning they was smooth yet had slightly considered Crus: Brouilly, the quintessential food wine, Source: winespectator.com/glossary Nouveau-related even next summer. In fact, haven’t been aged. Their easy which is not surprising festivals. At 12:01am, just wines that were released on drinkability comes from a since the region is known weeks after the grapes Beaujolais Day should be winemaking process called for its wonderful cuisine. are harvested, the wine is drunk before next May. You carbonic maceration, or THE One of the classic desserts du Beaujolais Brouilly ($24) released—always on may be able to still drink a whole berry fermentation. GRAPES of the area is simply fresh was well worth the wait. the third Thursday 2018 vintage, but the wine The technique allows the peaches, topped with black The best way to learn by French Law. won’t have the same avors as fresh, fruity quality of the currants and drenched in the di erences among the Beaujolais Nouveau is it did when released. Anything wine to be preserved, without chilled Beaujolais. Beaujolais wines is to have the rst wine of the season older could be vinegar by now. extracting bitter tannins from GAMAY The only problem you may a side-by-side tasting. After and is always considered a Made from 100 percent the grape skins. In addition have with Cru Beaujolais is tasting the Beaujolais-Villages Gamay is a purple-colored grape variety used to festive wine, even in America. Gamay grapes, Beaujolais to giving winemakers a make red wines, most notably in France’s Beaujolais nding it. I had to order a and a Cru, you, too, may Although serious wine snobs Nouveau is called vin primeur, nice cash ow immediately region and in the Loire Valley. Highly aciditic, the bottle online because I was become a wine snob the next often turn up their noses at or rst wine. The grapes following harvest, the “new” grapes produce light-bodied and fruity wines. The unable to locate a bottle at time someone o ers you a Beaujolais Nouveau, the wines are handpicked in France’s wines are a preview of the grape was first mentioned in the 15th century. local wine retailers. My Cru Beaujolais Nouveau. are light and easy-drinking, Beaujolais area of the quality of the vintage. Wine often showing up at holiday Bourgogne/Burgundy region. drinkers also get a taste of parties. Chances are you The wines are fermented, the style that winemakers Mary Ann DeSantis has written for Lake & Sumter Style since 2006. She is a member of the Society of American will even receive a bottle for bottled and available to will produce in their regular Travel Writers and a fellow of the Symposium for Professional Wine Writers, Napa Valley. Her travel and wine articles have won several first-place awards from the Florida Press Club. Contact her at [email protected] MARY ANN DESANTIS NOV '19 • LAKEANDSUMTERSTYLE.C O M / 099.

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