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Home > Blogs > Uncorked > Archives > 2005 > November > 15 > Entry
All Hype or Pure Pleasure? YOU Decide
I’m curious, and I want you to help answer my curiosity. So all you lurkers out there — I’m calling you out. It’ll be easy, I assure you.
I want to know what you think of the nouveau phenomenon.
I wrote yesterday about this coming Thursday’s release of the 2005 Beaujolais Nouveau wines (see below) and their imitators from other parts of the world. My sense is the release — which comes with great fanfare in places like New York and Paris — is not as big of a deal in these parts as it used to be. I could be wrong.
What do you think of nouveau winess? What do you like (or not like) about them? Are they priced right?
Do you drink them with meals, or by themselves?
What could nouveau producers do to make the release of these wines more appealing? What could the wine shops do differently to make this experience more enjoyable?
If you’re on the retail or wholesale or marketing end of the wine trade, let me hear your thoughts too.
You don’t have to answer every question posed. Any one of them will do. Just click on the “post a comment” link and take it from there.
Let us know what you think.
Update: the initial comments to this solicitation have been all across the board, ranging from “goes great with pizza” to “Hideous” to “I’d rather drink dry vermouth on the rocks.” Take a look — and then let your voice be heard.
Cheers!
Mark Fisher
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Comments
By Wine-Wench
November 17, 2005 9:58 AM | Link to this
Oh and French Onion Dip, French Bread, and French vanilla ice cream.
By CTheGee
November 16, 2005 8:16 PM | Link to this
Some are of course better than others but my taste buds don’t know best from good. I like the fruitiness. I won’t buy a case, I’ll buy a couple of bottles of a couple of brands. And when it’s gone, then it’s over. My price point is $12. Over that and I’ll go find some Lodi Zin. Oh it DOES make great Sangria!
By Wine-Wench
November 16, 2005 5:00 PM | Link to this
I sure wish I had a beret. I think the wine shops should make the event as cheesy as possible: play French music and have French Fries, Croissants, and French Toast served by French Maids.
By Gordo
November 16, 2005 3:43 PM | Link to this
I agree with the light-hearted, fun, not too expensive, not to be taken seriously, and the enjoy the festivity of having it with some food and friends. Like Paul, I wish there was the kind of variety in the offerings that there used to be. But, c’est la guerre.
By kay
November 16, 2005 1:28 PM | Link to this
I agree with Ann: the reason for this is the party and company. The wine (like any wine) varies in taste, quality, and price. I think in general it is correctly priced. As I tend to like the bigger reds I can not judge the changes over the years. My favorite wine places have both the nouveau and others to sample tommorrow nite
By Barb
November 16, 2005 12:45 PM | Link to this
It’s a french thing, oui? The whimsy of Gaul, and all that. The French do at least two things quite well, food and wine. Yes, it is an excuse to have a party but why is that considered a bad idea? I think I’ll stop in to Cuvee. Good post Jessica, especially that last statement!
By cathy
November 16, 2005 11:00 AM | Link to this
Happy Birthday Paul! I agree with Todd N., Nouveau is light-hearted amusement. Go with the flow. It reminds me of when I lived in Europe in the early ‘90’s and went to the French Commissary and got the wines for about $3/bottle for a casual party with friends. It’s a fun once-a-year party wine… might even make a good Sangria.
By Jill
November 16, 2005 10:36 AM | Link to this
Its a “fun” wine, not to be taken seriously! I agree with all those who said, enjoy it for the season and with family and friends! My favorite usually is a serious “big red”, so I love that one time a year one can enjoy a free-spirit, of sorts. It’s not as bad as “vermouth on the rocks” — lighten up and have fun!
By mel
November 16, 2005 8:57 AM | Link to this
I think you should just make your own. Get a gallon Of grape juice and throw in a few shots of grain alcohol. shake and by magic you have noveau. Let the party begin!!!
By Barb
November 16, 2005 8:49 AM | Link to this
I agree with Ann… it’s not the wine… it’s the company. This is a festive time of the year… go be with your wine friends!
By ToddN
November 16, 2005 8:43 AM | Link to this
Pleasure — 1) The state or feeling of being pleased or gratified. 2) A source of enjoyment or delight 3) Amusement, diversion, or worldly enjoyment 4) Sensual gratification or indulgence. The above is from Websters website and I think it decribes Nouveau perfectly. It isn’t at all serious nor meant to be; serious predictions about vintage quality are always a gamble, Nouveau won’t stand up to certain foods, and drinking too much will certainly reward the imbiber with a nasty headache. So why do it? It is a fun way to celebrate the newest harvest and look forward to another year of drinking great wine, eating good food, and telling tall tales with family and friends—that sounds worth clebrating to me. I do have to respectfully disagree with Larry’s comment about it being better and cheaper than Dolcetto, but I agree with him that it is not overpriced …at least not tooo much!
By Larry
November 16, 2005 1:13 AM | Link to this
Well, it’s the week before Thanksgiving, and time to sample the new harvest. Overhyped? Maybe. Overpriced? not really- it’s getting tough to find anything inspiring in the $10 price range anymore. I always allow myself a bottle or three this time of year of this fermented grape juice. Try it straight up? Never. Goes great with pizza, though — better than Dolcetto, and a lot cheaper.
By Paul
November 15, 2005 11:23 PM | Link to this
In my opinion, the style of Beaujolai Nouveau has changed greatly over the last 30 years. It used to be much fruitier and more lively. Also much shorter-lived. But there was also much more variety from one shipper to the next. Just my opinion, but today’s Nouveaux is more consistent from shipper to shipper, but less exciting and less interesting (more bland?). And consequently, I find the arrival of the Nouveaux is now a much less compelling event. When living in the Washington, D.C. area during the 1970s, there were fabulous Nouveaux almost every year. And many real dogs almost every year. The “arrival” tastings allowed the consumer to seperate the best from the rest. As far as what foods to serve with Nouveaux, when in D.C. I used to have a combination Nouveaux/birthday party every year. A couple of cases of the best Nouveaux I could find (typically around $1.99 per bottle in those days, and often in short supply) would be served with a combination of beef fondeau, cheese fondeau and fruit fondeau (apricots, strawberries and sliced bananas were my favorite fruits). Sometimes I also did a shrimp fondeau. Makes my mouth water just thinking about those parties.
By Jessica
November 15, 2005 10:46 PM | Link to this
As a retailer, I enjoy the arrival of Beaujolais Nouveau each year. I don’t predict the quality of wines to come after quaffing the fresh fruity gamay juice, but I enjoy the festivity of it all. It is the perfect wine for Thanksgiving and so its release the week before makes my job a little easier over the next few days. We will be tasting 4 or 5 Nouveaus here at Cuvee on Thursday (I can’t remember how many I ordered way back in July and August), beginning when the trucks start delivering them. Snacks will be available to show the versatility of this food-friendly wine. Put on your beret, jump in your Peugot and come drink some Nouveau!
By kim kocher
November 15, 2005 10:40 PM | Link to this
I’d rather drink dry vermouth on the rocks. Nouveau is either bad or hideous. If you need an excuse for a party that bad, heaven help you.
By Ann
November 15, 2005 10:35 PM | Link to this
It is hype!! I mean it is not about the wine…it is an excuse to have a party. The Mushroom Wine Shoppe in Mount Adams used to have this great Beaujolais Nouveau release party!!