NOVEMBER 15, 2018
WHAT’S NOUVEAU AT LCBO?
WHAT’S NOUVEAU AT LCBO?
LCBO HERALDS LATEST VINTAGE WITH RELEASE OF 10 NOUVEAU WINES
By Michael Vaughan
Today's Nouveau/Novello release at the LCBO may be the biggest disappointment of the year.
Having personally tasted every LCBO Nouveau/Novello release at the LCBO for over 40 years, I am sad to report that this 2018 release is
not up to par. There are three new French Nouveau that are OK along with seven repeats.
All the releases were tasted twice in the LCBO lab.
Sadly not a single recommendation, although a few may be worth trying.
From Canada, the only remaining listing at the LCBO is Rief's decidedly unpalateworthy Gamay
78-points - The Fool Reif Estate Gamay Nouveau 2018 VQA ($12.95 # 220483)
Off dry, light, spicy, dried plum flavours with a dusty, sour, horseradish nose. Has 11.5% alcohol. Screwcap closure.
Two Italian Novellos, first so-so the second quite OK
86.5-points - Mezzacorona Novello Trentino 2018 (Italy, $10.95 # 443192)
Medium-deep red colour. Slightly off-dry, bright, light bodied, somewhat peppery, unripe, plum flavours. Has 12.5% alcohol.
87.5-points - Negrar Novello del Veneto 2018 (IGT Italy, $10.95 # 899955)
Extremely deep intense purple colour. Smells and tastes like traditional fresh Novello.
Light, dry, bright - needs to breathe. Worth trying. Has 12% alcohol. Screwcap closure.
At least you can have some fun with this one!
Seven from France, mostly so-so
88-points - Duboeuf Gamay Nouveau 2018 (Ardèche, France, $10.95 # 891846)
Dry, tangy, light bodied, quaffer. Worth trying but not as good as in the past. Has 12.5% alcohol.
Mommessin Beaujolais Nouveau 2018 (France, $13.95 # 897934)
87-points - Dry, bright, slightly leesy, dry, malic, red apple flavours with some cherry notes. Has 12.5% alcohol . Screwcap closure.
88.5-points - Bouchard Aine Beaujolais Nouveau 2018 (France, $13.95 # 638080 - returning this year)
Fresh, lightish, dry, vibrant. Very quaffable! Good typicity and worth trying. Has 12.5% alcohol. Screwcap closure.
87.5-points - Calvet Beaujolais Nouveau 2018 (France, $14.95 # 7922 first time)
Dry, tangy, light bodied, fresh apple-plum fruit with a short crisp finish. Has 12.5% alcohol. Screwcap closure.
88-points - Le Père La Grolle Beaujolais Nouveau 2018 (France, $14.95 # 640052 - first time)
Dry, crisp, light bodied, plum-apple-cherry flavours with a short finish. Has 12.5% alcohol.
88.5-points - Duboeuf Beaujolais-Villages Nouveau 2018 (G. Duboeuf) (VINTAGES, France, $16.95 # 932780)
Dry, tangy light-bodied, somewhat leesy, crisp, youthful. Not up to the past! Has 12.5% alcohol.
89-points - Joseph Drouhin Beaujolais-Villages Nouveau 2018 (VINTAGES, France, $17.95 #113266)
Very dry, medium-light bodied, gently spicy, slightly baked, plum-apple flavours with a lingering, crisp, unoaked finish.
The only one to have 13% alcohol. Intense, would prefer to drink this one in a few months buy it after it goes on clearance!
Back to Vintage Assessments
Prior written permission is required for any form of reproduction
and/or quotation (electronic or otherwise) of anything that appears on this website.
Copyright Michael Vaughan 2018
Contact Michael Vaughan at mbv@uniserve.com
By Michael Vaughan
Today's Nouveau/Novello release at the LCBO may be the biggest disappointment of the year.
Having personally tasted every LCBO Nouveau/Novello release at the LCBO for over 40 years, I am sad to report that this 2018 release is
not up to par. There are three new French Nouveau that are OK along with seven repeats.
All the releases were tasted twice in the LCBO lab.
Sadly not a single recommendation, although a few may be worth trying.
From Canada, the only remaining listing at the LCBO is Rief's decidedly unpalateworthy Gamay
78-points - The Fool Reif Estate Gamay Nouveau 2018 VQA ($12.95 # 220483)
Off dry, light, spicy, dried plum flavours with a dusty, sour, horseradish nose. Has 11.5% alcohol. Screwcap closure.
Two Italian Novellos, first so-so the second quite OK
86.5-points - Mezzacorona Novello Trentino 2018 (Italy, $10.95 # 443192)
Medium-deep red colour. Slightly off-dry, bright, light bodied, somewhat peppery, unripe, plum flavours. Has 12.5% alcohol.
87.5-points - Negrar Novello del Veneto 2018 (IGT Italy, $10.95 # 899955)
Extremely deep intense purple colour. Smells and tastes like traditional fresh Novello.
Light, dry, bright - needs to breathe. Worth trying. Has 12% alcohol. Screwcap closure.
At least you can have some fun with this one!
Seven from France, mostly so-so
88-points - Duboeuf Gamay Nouveau 2018 (Ardèche, France, $10.95 # 891846)
Dry, tangy, light bodied, quaffer. Worth trying but not as good as in the past. Has 12.5% alcohol.
Mommessin Beaujolais Nouveau 2018 (France, $13.95 # 897934)
87-points - Dry, bright, slightly leesy, dry, malic, red apple flavours with some cherry notes. Has 12.5% alcohol . Screwcap closure.
88.5-points - Bouchard Aine Beaujolais Nouveau 2018 (France, $13.95 # 638080 - returning this year)
Fresh, lightish, dry, vibrant. Very quaffable! Good typicity and worth trying. Has 12.5% alcohol. Screwcap closure.
87.5-points - Calvet Beaujolais Nouveau 2018 (France, $14.95 # 7922 first time)
Dry, tangy, light bodied, fresh apple-plum fruit with a short crisp finish. Has 12.5% alcohol. Screwcap closure.
88-points - Le Père La Grolle Beaujolais Nouveau 2018 (France, $14.95 # 640052 - first time)
Dry, crisp, light bodied, plum-apple-cherry flavours with a short finish. Has 12.5% alcohol.
88.5-points - Duboeuf Beaujolais-Villages Nouveau 2018 (G. Duboeuf) (VINTAGES, France, $16.95 # 932780)
Dry, tangy light-bodied, somewhat leesy, crisp, youthful. Not up to the past! Has 12.5% alcohol.
89-points - Joseph Drouhin Beaujolais-Villages Nouveau 2018 (VINTAGES, France, $17.95 #113266)
Very dry, medium-light bodied, gently spicy, slightly baked, plum-apple flavours with a lingering, crisp, unoaked finish.
The only one to have 13% alcohol. Intense, would prefer to drink this one in a few months buy it after it goes on clearance!
Back to Vintage Assessments
Prior written permission is required for any form of reproduction
and/or quotation (electronic or otherwise) of anything that appears on this website.
Copyright Michael Vaughan 2018
Contact Michael Vaughan at mbv@uniserve.com