Beaujolais-Villages Nouveau, 2012

Beaujolais-Villages Nouveau, 2012

Can we get a fine Beaujolais-Villages Nouveau at this price? ...

Joseph Drouhin Beaujolais-Villages Nouveau

Once a marketing smash, the new wine phenomenon has become more and more of a yawn in the last several years. It’s too early in the season for boring statistics, but fewer and fewer people anxiously await the third Thursday in November, once a great excuse for parties. This offering is a so-called-top-of-the-line Beaujolais Villages Nouveau. Like the other new wines, it was raw grapes only a few short weeks ago. The producer dates back to 1880 and owns over 180 acres (more than 70 hectares) of some great vineyards in Burgundy. If you are in the Beaune area, only 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of Dijon you should visit the Hospices de Beaune and its museum with a sound and light show evenings from April to October. And don’t miss the local wine market for better wines than today’s offering. The companion wine is a Gamay Nouveau from a lesser known region of France at about two thirds the price.


OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.
Wine Reviewed
Joseph Drouhin Beaujolais-Villages Nouveau 2012 12 % alcohol about $15.
There were no specific marketing materials so let’s quote the back label. “Passion and skill have been faithfully transmitted to the present fourth generation of the Drouhin family. The vinification of this wine reveals the elegance and true expression of the Beaujolais terroir. With its intensity and fresh fruit, Beaujolais is the festive wine par excellence. This is a unique bottle, to enjoy and to share.” And now for my review.

At the first sips this wine was thin and sweet. It had moderate length and no depth. In the face of Japanese rice crackers it was raw. A barbecued chicken leg brought out the bubble gum and a slight sweetness. A barbecued chicken breast made me think that the bubble gum was tamed but I was wrong. The liquid darkened but I kept thinking raw. Then came a packaged Turkish salad composed of sweet pimento, tomato paste, dried parsley, hot peppers, vinegar, and spices and voilà, our new friend paled. Candy made from fruit juice and fruit puree muted the wine; it was only grapey. And for the first time in years I was totally unable to return the cork to its resting place. I had to dig up another cork to seal the bottle.

This review of a Beaujolais-Villages Nouveau, 2012 continues on my web site at
http://theworldwidewine.com/Wine_reviews/Near_weekly_15_dollar_wine_reviews/Y2012/beaujolais_villages_nouveau.php