 I mean, really.
What can I tell you or add to the ubiquitous conversation of today being the third Thursday of November, which means it's the release of the Beaujolais Nouveau wines, which celebrates the harvest of the iconic Burgundian region, which perennially shines a spotlight on one of the most unsung grape varieties: Gamay? Here's what I'll tell you: Mommessin's Beaujolais Nouveau 2018 ($18.99 here in Vancouver at B.C. Liquor Stores) is a tasty, DRY, seasonal drop with clove, cola and Twizzlers on both the aromatics and the palate. (Props to my wife on the Twizzlers catch!) There are some dusty tannins here; the wine's a little more grown-up than I expected! My first venture into Mommessin's "Beaujolais Nouveau Rosé™" has been filled with delight! To my knowledge, this is a new thing on our shores, likely riding the coattails of the still-head-turning explosion of the global rosé category over the last couple of years. I really thought this Nouveau pink would be ridiculously sweet and cloying. It's SO NOT! Sure, there are strawberries, cream soda, and things of that sort in the aromatics when we swirl and sniff. The palate, though, is more cherries, pastrami, and fresh-cracked pepper. I was going to pursue the technical breakdown of residual sugar, acid, blah blah blah.... from the importer. That's clearly not the point of Nouveaus though, so I abstained. The wine's ridiculously good, and will pair well with pulled pork sandwiches, dim sum dumplings, turkey dinner, popcorn shrimp, veggie pakoras, Buffalo chicken wings, spicy tuna sushi rolls, cajun chicken Caesar salads, hilarious antics on your friend's balcony, sneaky sips before dinner with the in-laws, and likely, a long haul of a joint before hitting a concert. (Hey, we just legalized the stuff nation-wide; you're gonna get thirsty!) Here in Vancouver, 19 bucks at B.C. Liquor Stores. Do. It. So, why let the French have all the fun? For the last couple of years, British Columbia's legendary Quails' Gate Estate Winery has been paying homage to "Bojo Nouveau" with their own take: 'Cailleteau' Gamay Nouveau. The fresh 2018 edition was also released today, and holy shit - it's delicious! A richer, deeper style beyond what we expect from Beaujolais (our region is considerably hotter), the nose exudes musk, dusty violets, and nutmeg. Once we sip, there's dry cream soda (Is there such a thing?), hibiscus, Turkish delight, plums and a touch of meatiness in the core. A richness with dusty tannins, gleaming acidity, and a good crack of a mineral note keeps everything in place. This is a solid wine that should be thought of as a valid sip, not a gimmick for the season. Nice stuff. The holidays are coming; turkey will be on the table. Giddy-up! #GoGamayGo Comments are closed.
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