Beaujolais Nouveau 2009

With 2009 being one of the better vintages of the past half century in Beaujolais, ironically it’s not necessarily a top year for Beaujolais Nouveau, especially if you’ve gotten used to a fruit juice-y style Nouveau. The 2009 Beaujolais wines have more to give, and they’re going to develop for quite a while. Craftmanship makes a difference this year in the Nouveau wines, all of which are low alcohol (12.5%). These days, about one-third of all the wine in Beaujolais is sold as Beaujolais Nouveau.

Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau 2009

$9.99 (advance sample)

Not a big fruit-juice wine as in other years. Floral and new strawberries aroma, not very expressive flavors. Clunky tannins crying out for light, salty food.

Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Villages Nouveau 2009

$10.99 (advance sample)

More of a “real wine” than typical Nouveau. Slight whiff of strawberry over good red fruit aromas. Enjoyable blackberry flavors and balanced tannins.

Labouré-Roi Beaujolais Nouveau 2009

$10.99 (advance sample)

Best feature: screwcap. Reminiscent of powdered cherry jello aroma, tastes like thin cherry wine with a big, hot finish though at 12:5% it’s not a high-alcohol wine.

Joseph Drouhin Beaujolais Nouveau 2009

$10 (advance sample)

More like an ageable wine than a Nouveau. Cherry juice aroma with a pleasant touch of floral in the flavor and enjoyable cherry flavors. Good medium body and very nice tannins.

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   Alex says:

   November 19, 2009 at 12:49 pm

   Nice guide, thanks! I was reading about Beaujolais etc. on France Today, which gave a nice background, but I like this price and taste review too.

   reply