My favorite part of printemps is when all the bojo novo goes on clearance because no one bought it because it tastes like ASS. Oh sure, we all raise a glass on Third Thursday and cheer some fake-news through gritted teeth of likablility. But let’s face it: No one likes this wine on release. It’s green, acrid swill. Influencer will go on and on about harbingers to the burgeoning vintage and the physics of CM to their dutiful low-brow suckers, but you KNOW my annual rant here: The stuff really starts settling down about May or June and by late-summer–or even the following November–it is delicious and retailers will do anything to get rid of it. To wit:
A glorious deep ruby with bright purple-blue edges. The carbonic nose lingers, but incredible, supple fruit washes easily off the bouquet–and this isn’t even a GOOD one! This one is sweet and luscious, incredibly ripe–almost Belle Glos in American-palate demeanor in its concentration and lustful berry concentration.
Spicy and dry-curtained in the mouth–did I mention it was marked down to 8 dollars?–it is just a stunning, GORGEOUS wine to drink, slightly chilled and curling toes with sparkling acidity and fruit layered up on semi-metallic pangs of structure. This is absolute Gamay PEAK translation here, boys and girls, with NO relation to Pinot–not even a little bit. And while it would be arrogant to demean Beaujolais Nouveau’s almost foundation-less 500-year association with Burgundy, that’s pretty much what I do, so get used to it. Go out and rescue them. Drink them all summer long. God, what a great bottle.
2023 GEORGES DUBOEUF Beaujolais Nouveau AOP 13.0
Stephen McConnell 