All over France, Beaujolais nouveau is in the news. But local "new" wines have made significant inroads into the vin nouveau market. The proof is in the product. When I stopped off after work on Thursday to buy a bottle or two of Beaujolais nouveau, the fresh food market I shop at had a choice -- and tasting -- of three Gaillac primeurs and just one Beaujolais. Hats off to Gaillac wine producers for making their primeur wine a commercial success. I would say that here in Aveyron it has almost dethroned Beaujolais nouveau.
I've already tasted one Gaillac primeur, from the Domaine de LaBarthe , and was impressed by its structure and complexity. With notes of slightly peppered dark cherries -- or perhaps cranberries -- I couldn't help but think it would be a great choice for Thanksgiving dinner. I doubt it's available in the USA, but maybe some of my expat readers will be interested.
I have also tasted one Beaujolais, which sold for 5.95 euros -- as opposed to 4.70 euros for the Gaillac. Just to be nice, it will remain nameless, but suffice to say that its nose was brimming with the dreaded scents of Haribo strawberry and banana candy. My husband, rather hysterically, wanted to toss the whole bottle down the drain. I stopped him -- six euros is six euros, after all! But I bought three more bottle of the Labarthe Gaillac primeur this morning. Cheers!
5 comments:
I've seen Touraine Primeur here, of course, and I've even seen Côtes du Rhône Nouveau and Muscadet Primeur. Now I'll have to look for Gaillac Nouveau. I'm sure it would be good. I remember having foie gras with a good Gaillac moelleux about 10 years ago in the Lot.
I drank some BN on Thursday night. It was better than I expected it to be. On the other hand, I'm a little jealous of your Gaillac primeur! I used to buy a really tasty Gaillac when I lived in SmallTown.
Oh, I miss beaujolais season in France! Perhaps I miss the festivities more than the wine - with all the sign saying: il est arrive!!! And the cute fall decorations in all the cafes. Enjoy the season! Drink a glass for me.
Thanks for the tip. I'll look for the Gaillac. At the risk of being stoned...I've never been a fan of BN but I've had other early wines that wee quite nice.
Le Gaillac Nouveau n'est pas encore arrivé in my area or then I badly looked!!
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