2020 canceled many plans and celebrations, but something it cannot alter is Beaujolais Nouveau Day, which celebrates the first wines of the new vintage. The tradition began in Beaujolais’s French countryside region, located just south of Burgundy’s Mâcon region.
The once local tradition spread to Paris in the mid-20th century, and the race has begun. Every year, winemakers compete to get their Nouveau wines to the city first.
Thanks to the marketing genius of Georges Duboeuf, Beaujolais’s best-known winemakers, Beaujolais Nouveau Day, became a worldwide phenomenon in the 1980s. The third Thursday of November officially became Beaujolais Nouveau Day in 1985.
We were worried that because of 2020 pandemic restrictions, we may not get a chance to taste Beaujolais Nouveau in the United States. Thank Bachus, French winemakers persevered, and we already tasted a couple of Nouveaus.
What is Beaujolais Nouveau?
Beaujolais Nouveau is a red wine made from the star grape of this region – Gamay, which can produce fruity, refreshing wines meant to be enjoyed while they’re young.
Although it’s an inexpensive wine, Beaujolais is among a handful of regions where most grapes are hand-harvested. At the wineries, winemakers use a carbonic maceration technique to achieve the style Beaujolais Nouveau famous for.
No matter how much you love these festive fruity wines with light tannins, they are not intended to age. So don’t hoard and try to enjoy them within six months of release.
Besides bringing us to a festive mood, Beaujolais Nouveau also may give wine lovers the idea of what to expect from the more substantial Beaujolais wines to be released in the coming years.
As unprecedented 2020 was for humans, it was equally challenging for the vines and vintners. It was one of the hottest dryest seasons on record and the earliest harvest since 2003. This vintage was also characterized as one with substantial variability depending on the vineyards.
“The year 2020 was special in every respect. We didn’t really have a winter, then our vines faced a lack of water and drought… Mother Nature is queen and we have to adapt to her by revising the way we work.” said Paul Labruyère, winegrower of Domaine des Cadoles (Moulin-á-Vent, Brouilly, Régnié).
Beaujolais Nouveau 2020 in a Glass
So far, we have tasted Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau 2020 and Jean-Claude Debeaune Beaujolais Nouveau 2020. The ripeness of the 2020 vintage came right through, but wines were notably different.
Duboeuf’s Beaujolais had a dried banana, cherry liquor, and almost caramel-like aromas.
Debeaune’s Beaujolais gravitated more towards red fruit with bubble gum and bing cherrry notes.
Both are delicious on the palate with bright flavors of ripe cherry and strawberry.
Both wines are a perfect accompaniment to Thanksgiving Dinner and other holiday festivities of the season.
Conclusion
Due to pandemic and tariffs, some Beaujolais producers opted-out of exporting Nouveau this year, and we may see a somewhat limited choice and quantities in stores. With higher “unexplained” demand for wine in 2020, stores may run out of pretty soon. So grab a bottle while you can!
As Georges Dubouef said, “Beaujolais Nouveau is a good excuse to party, to indulge ourselves with a good, easy glass of wine. I think it’s the perfect antidote for the gray times.”