With 2009 being one of the better vintages of the past half century in Beaujolais, ironically its not necessarily a top year for Beaujolais Nouveau, especially if youve gotten used to a fruit juice-y style Nouveau. The 2009 Beaujolais wines have more to give, and theyre 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% its 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.