Chasing Winter Away with Roasted Root Vegetable Soup

Living in Boston has taught me to be suspicious of cowardly March. As winter paws at its heels and spring serenades its sights, March lingers in spells of indecision. Wavers between days that boast sunshine and sweater-shedding warmth, and others who cry gray and wet storms.

Labouré-Roi Beaujolais Nouveau 2009

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. WHO Labouré-Roi WHAT Gamay, Beaujolais Nouveau WHERE France, Burgundy, Beaujolais WHEN 2009 HOW MUCH $10.99 (advance sample)

Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau 2009

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. WHO Georges Duboeuf WHAT Gamay, Beaujolais Nouveau WHERE France, Burgundy, Beaujolais WHEN 2009 HOW MUCH $9.99 (advance sample)

Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Villages Nouveau 2009

More of a “real wine” than typical Nouveau. Slight whiff of strawberry over good red fruit aromas. Enjoyable blackberry flavors and balanced tannins. WHO Georges Duboeuf WHAT Gamay, Beaujolais Nouveau WHERE France, Burgundy, Beaujolais WHEN 2009 HOW MUCH $10.99 (advance sample)

Joseph Drouhin Beaujolais Nouveau 2009

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. WHO Joseph Drouhin WHAT Gamay, Beaujolais Nouveau WHERE France, Burgundy, Beaujolais WHEN 2009 HOW MUCH $10.00 (advance sample)

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 [...]

2007 Domaine C. Ducroux Regnie

Minerals and strawberries, plus a single spray of oil from a key lime rind, blend together beautifully on the nose. The palate opens with a quick startling flavor of beef fat and dark berries, leading to strawberries and plums, along with strong minerality lasting through the finish. This has a velvety richness that would shock [...]

A Doughboy France: A Palate Press Veterans Day Tribute

This story comes from the war diary of my grandfather, Archie Brick, one of the first Americans in Europe in World War I. It is the story of every American doughboy, as told in one man’s diary.

2007 Domaine C. Ducroux Régnié

Minerals and strawberries, plus a single spray of oil from a key lime rind, blend together beautifully on the nose. The palate opens with a quick startling flavor of beef fat and dark berries, leading to strawberries and plums, along with strong minerality lasting through the finish. This has a velvety richness that would shock [...]