Quick Notes on the 2014 Beaujolais Nouveau-- in time for your Thanksgiving

Review of Beaujolais Nouveau for Thanksgiving

For your Thanksgiving, nothing beats a Beaujolais Nouveau--they are light, easy to drink, and fairly inoffensive.

But they do vary a great deal from one producer to another, so it helps to go to a tasting of the holiday favorites like that held annually at Kermit Lynch in Berkeley, CA yesterday. 

I was unable to make it there, but colleague Doug Eakins was kind enough to send these quick notes. As it happens, only one of the wines here was a Nouveau; the rest are more traditional Gamay Beaujolais wines. 

• 2012 Macon Farges Henri Perrusset Chardonnay: okay; steel aged with a mineral tas
• 2014 Beaujolais Nouveau Domaine Depeuble and Jean Foillard; both are okay but have no depth.
• 2013 Beaujolais Villages Guy Breton Gamay: interesting bouquet and some depth.
• 2013 Cote De Brouilly Nicole Chanrion Gamay; very refined...bought one.
• 2013 moulin-A-Vent Domaine Diochon Gamay: poor bouquet, but some finish.

You notice that Doug felt the Nouveau had no depth -- not surprising, since it was grapes on the vine only a month ago.

But for all its lack of sophistication, the Nouveaus can be a pleasant accompaniment to holiday dinner, especially dinners with so many components, as is typical of Thanksgiving. It is very much more a beverage than a wine. See our John Engstrom's in-depth suggestions for holiday wines.