Did You Notice? It’s Nouveau Time
Richard Feldkamp – November 16, 2017

Every year, on the third Thursday of November, the new wines of the current vintage put on sale. In the past, the release has been met with parties, special tastings, races to market and massive publicity. This year the release was met with very little press or events put on by the French or Italian trade associations. Over the past ten years the interest in the Nouveau wines has been waning and the LCBO has been ordering fewer cases of the various brands. This year however two new Beaujolais Nouveau have been added to try and recapture sales and reverse the waning Nouveau trend.

Nouveau is a great summertime or party time red that comes out just as winter is about to grip us in its icy claws. Chill it slightly and it is a refreshing drink without the grippy tannins that many reds tend to have. For those who react to the tannins and natural colours from the grape skins, the smoothness and paler colour of the new wines may provide some relief for the person who wants to be a red wine drinker. Overall the quality of the new wines this year was better than it has been in several years. The French wines have very good fruit flavours and a lovely drink me quality, the Italians, bright flavours and are ready to liven up holiday parties and the Ontario examples have a hint of sweetness to attract the recent adapters to the wine world.

Here is my rundown on what is available this year. The offerings from France were:

Joseph Drouhin Beaujolais-Villages Nouveau (CSPC 113266, $16.95) Bright cherry and strawberry with hints of banana. Smooth, light, easy drinking. 88 points

Dubouillon Beaujolais Nouveau (CSPC 539742, $14.95) Nicely purple with aromas of raspberry, cherry, strawberry and a hint of pear candy. Very strawberry flavour, a joy to drink. 87.5 points

Duboeuf Gamay Nouveau Vin de Pays l’Ardeche (CSPC 891846, $10.95) Bright colour with the pear and banana aromas of carbonic maceration over fresh fruit. Smooth and fruity and waiting for a party. Best Buy 87 points

Mommessin Beaujolais Nouveau (CSPC 897934, $13.95) Deep ruby purple with wild strawberry aromas. The driest of the French with lots of cherry flavour. 86.5 points

Pardon My French Beaujolais Nouveau (CSPC 539734, $ 13.95) Bright ruby red, pear over cherry and red berries. Smooth, light easy drinking. 86.5 points

From Italy:

Negrar Novello del Veneto (CSPC 899955, $9.95) Bright colour with earthy cherry, raspberry and plummy aromas. Light and bright flavours and an easy-going quality. Best Buy 87.5 points

Mezzacorona Novello Trentino (CSPC 443192, $9.95) Deep colour with cherry, strawberry, banana and some earthy cocoa tones. Smooth and a little on the light side flavour wise. 86 points

From Canada:

Reif the Hanging Man Kerner Nouveau VQA (CSPC 408013, $12.95) Very pale straw colour with light minerally, lemony and peach aromas. Candied peach flavour, off-dry, very light. 82 points

Reif The Fool Gamay Nouveau VQA (CSPC 220483, $12.95) Bright purple colour and aromas of cherry and anise with hints of earth and volatile acidity. Candied strawberry flavours, off-dry, light flavours and some green pepper notes on the finish. 78 points

Give these wines a try and remember that the lightness and freshness of the Nouveau wines make them great party wines.