Beaujolais Nouveau est (almost) Arrivé!

It’s been demeaned, hated on, and pithily derided as “vin de merde.” And while no one would argue that Beaujolais Nouveau is a refined wine, dismissing it as unimportant is the work of an unashamed wine snob!

It would be unthinkable to deride a kindergartener for his inability to do calculus, and scarcely anyone would chide a five-year-old for failing to play Beethoven at her first piano lesson. This is important to remember when it comes to Beaujolais Nouveau: The wine is but a youthful child, full of energy and excitement, even if it does lack some refinement.

“The wine is but a youthful child, full of energy and excitement, even if it does lack some refinement.”

First and foremost, Beaujolais Nouveau is a “vin de primeur.” That is, it’s a very young wine meant to be drunk young. The Gamay grapes are fermented quickly, aged for only a few weeks, and released as the first wine of the vintage. To put its lifespan in perspective, the grapes are released as wine before most late harvest grapes are even picked from the vine. Moreover, it will still be another two to three years before fine Bordeaux wines are released!

In much the same way that we don’t compare the work performed at an elementary school science fair with the work of a Nobel Prize winner, Beaujolais Nouveau is a preamble and should not be compared with fine, long-aged wines. It’s the first sip of a vintage and hints at the exciting potential of all those wines that we will enjoy in the coming months and years.

We drink Beaujolais Nouveau because it is part of a celebratory tradition. With its exceedingly fresh, fruity, earthy, and mushroomy flavors, we’re reminded that wine starts on the farm. It’s a bit of an international Thanksgiving when we take a moment to appreciate the recent harvest. It’s the first sip of a vintage and hints at the exciting potential of all those wines that we will enjoy in the coming months and years. And most importantly, it’s a tradition that reinforces the most important aspect of wine: It’s a celebratory experience that is shared with others.

One of our favorite Beaujolais Nouveaux is from Domaine Descroix. Domaine Descroix was founded in 1905 and has been in the family for four generations. The winery is located in the village of Lantignié, north of Beaujolais, right next to Beaujeu, which is the historic capital of Beaujolais and gave its name to the region. Lantignié encompasses the crus Régnié, Brouilly and Morgon.

The wines are vinified, aged and bottled at the winery combining tradition and modern technologies. Domaine Descroix works in respect of the terroir and the environment. They focus on the work in the vineyard and low yields, which results in high quality grapes and excellent wines. They aim to produce Beaujolais wines that are authentic and true to the appellation. Domaine Descroix was awarded a gold medal from the Trophée Lyon-Beaujolais Nouveau, the only official competition devoted to Beaujolais Nouveau.

Light, fresh, fruity wine, easy to drink, we recommend enjoying your Beaujolais Nouveau chilled.

Domaine Descroix was awarded a gold medal from the Trophée Lyon-Beaujolais Nouveau, the only official competition devoted to Beaujolais Nouveau. We can’t wait to have a bottle on November 19th — and another with our Thanksgiving leftovers!