Beaujolais Nouveau etc. 2011 Picks: 6 Tasted of 6

Fading Western Sun, Tofino '99

It’s that time of year again when LCBO honours the tradition of ‘Nouveau’, wines having a freshness meant to be enjoyed within the month. Each country releases less than a dozen of the current vintage with an abbreviated fermentation process.  Beppi Crosariol’s column of October 4th tells the tale of Beaujolais Nouveau over the past few years. A tale, with a happy ending, of the effect of corporate opportunism on one of France’s prestigious wine regions.  His short video is also worth the time to view.

Konrad Ejbich (Twitter @WineZone ) tried the 2011s.  Mommessin Beaujolais Nouveau and Vignerons Catalan Primeur Syrah-Merlot were his two favourites.  Gordon Stimmell in his article November 15th (The Star) picked Mommessin Beaujolais Nouveau, Negrar Novello del Veneto and Drouhin Beaujolais-Villages Nouveau as the top three of the nine he tasted. The wines were released by the LCBO early Thursday morning.

My last tasting of Nouveau’s was November 23rd of 2010.  The results are listed below - two of the wines are repeated (>) this year:

• Mezzacorona Novio 2010 Vino Novello di Teroldego,  89-2  --  G, Trentino, Italy,  #669275  $9.95
• Joseph Drouhin 2010 Beaujolais Villages Nouveau, 88-1  --  V, Beaune, France, #113266 $14.95
• >Georges DuBoeuf 2010 Beaujolais-Villages Nouveau, 88-1  --  V,  Romanèche-Thorins, France, #932780 $14.95   
• Georges DuBoeuf 2010 Gamay Nouveau, 87-2  --  G, Ardèche, France, #891846 $8.95
• >Cantina 2010 Novello del Veneto IGT,  86-1  --  G, Negrar, Italy, 12.0% D, #899955 $9.95
• The Fool Reif Estate Gamay Nouveau VQA Niagara River, 83  --  G, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, #220483 $10.95

The six for a blind tasting this year were an arbitrary selection of the eleven released.

The Setup

Five of the six were setup for a blind tasting the afternoon of November 23rd with one following the next day. Notes follow.

Salut, Ww

THE LINEUP:

• Georges DuBoeuf Beaujolais-Villages Nouveau 2011,  84  --  V, Beaujolais, France, #932780  $14.95 
• Georges DuBoeuf  Gamay Nouveau 2011,  82  --  G, Burgundy, France, #891846  $8.95
• Primeur Syrah 2011,  81  --  G, Pays d’Oc, France, 12.5% D, #899948  $9.95
• Cantina Tollo Giocale Novello Rosso Terre de Chietti 2011, 81  --  G, Abruzzo, Italy, #271759  $8.95
• Primeur Catalan Syrah-Merlot 2011, 80  --  G, Pays d’Oc, France, #220533  $9.95
• Cantina di Negrar Novello Del Veneto 2011,  80  --  G,  Negrar, Italy, #899955  $9.95 

(G - General Listing, V - Vintages, r-v - Rating-Value)


TASTINGS:

The Result

The Reveal

Each nouveau should be allowed to mellow in the open bottle an hour if initial pouring shows exaggerated ‘bubblegum` aromas and flavours. Some may lose their freshness if left longer...  and I preferred each served at 12-14oC. The wines tasted could get along with a table of mixed cheeses, party sandwiches and crackers w/dip but let sippers do the pairing. Some just don’t go with anything. Salut, Ww

GEORGES DUBOEUF BEAUJOLAIS-VILLAGES NOUVEAU 2011 (Map it!) , Beaujolais, France, 12.5% D, #932780  $14.95  (Tasted November 23, 2011)  CS

A General listing labelled Appellation Beaujolais-Villages Controlée.  My notes: A light bubblegum -cherry/strawberry- aroma on initial pour that dissipates slowly. A lacy rim breaks into islands adding a few quick tears on the glass, no staining. A touch of tannin and a weak cherry/blueberry flavour with the ‘gum’ in the background fading to a short chalk dry finish, light-bodied. Difficult to pair, perhaps would complement a buffet hedging toward sausage pieces and mini tortières or try with rack of lamb.  84

GEORGES DUBOEUF GAMAY NOUVEAU 2011 (Map it!) , Burgundy, France, 12.5% D, #891846  $8.95  (Tasted November 23, 2011)  CS

A General listing labelled Vins de Pays de l‘Ardèche. My notes: A just perceptible soft blackberry nose from a ruby colour with a tint of blue. Slight staining, a firm film with an unbroken rim flowing a few slow legs and the first sip has a noticeable acid and drying tannins leaving a hollow flavour of dried black fruit, lightish medium-bodied. A reasonable sipper until the finish sets in then finger foods would be helpful. Let air to settle out initial mustiness. 82  

PRIMEUR SYRAH 2011, Pays d’Oc, France, 12.5% D, #899948  $9.95  (Tasted November 23, 2011)  CS

A General listing produced by Maison Jean Jean.  My notes: There`s a purple tint to an insipid ruby and the rim stays firm shedding long fast legs. A sniff is a bearable strawberry liquorice - no sign of pepper. There is a herbal hint to a light berry flavour on first sipping, atypical of the varietal, and an aftertaste similar to that chewing a red jelly bear. A short finish, light bodied and dry. If the buffet is handy try with tomato bruschetta but the oregano may object.  81   

 CANTINA TOLLO GIOCALE NOVELLO ROSSO TERRE DI CHIETI 2011, Abruzzo, Italy, 12.5% D, #271759  $8.95  (Tasted November 23, 2011)  CS

A General listing.  My notes:  A deep purple, regal in the glass with a soft berry nose after airing. Soft on the palate on first sip with a touch of berry and balanced acid for flavouring with a mild tannin. Dry with a moderate acid makes this a general crowd sipper - not a conversation starter but one to keep the party going if an open bar.  Have with a tray of mixed crackers and cheeses.  81

PRIMEUR CATALAN SYRAH-MERLOT 2011, Pays d’Oc, France, 12.5% D, #220533  $9.95  (Tasted November 23, 2011)  CS

A General listing produced by Vignerons Catalans. My notes: A strongly perfumed raspberry-strawberry liquorice stick nose, delicious if you like perfume with your wine. A purple tinged ruby, a light film that separates quickly into fast tears and the first sip is well balanced - flavour, tannin, acid - with little aspect of `liquorice`.  Lightish medium-bodied and frivolous, a smoother b-n where the nose infuses the flavour. Have on an occasion as a substitute to marshmallows and cream soda.  80

CANTINA DI NEGRAR NOVELLO DEL VENETO 2011 (Map it!) ,  Negrar, Italy, 12.0% D, #899955  $9.95  (Tasted November 24, 2011)  CS

A General listing.  My notes:  A loose cork went in rather than out forcing some unwanted spray when this bottle was opened. Not included in the blind tasting but was rated separately. A normal ruby with a firm film and columns of slow legs - a light staining on the glass. Not the ‘airplane dope’ aromas of last year, this vintage there’s no nose to speak of. The first sip has a smoothness introducing flavours of berries lasting a short while before ending smooth and dry. Light-bodied and lightly flavoured makes this a passable sipper and some affiliation with chicken or pork entrees. A novello with little character but very quaffable.  80