Okay one of the best marketing ideas to sell bad wine to consumers who didn't know any better was the Beaujolais Nouveau craze of the 1970's and 80's. Starting in the 70's a certain producer of Beaujolais fabricated the ridiculous "custom" of releasing crappy Beaujolais "wine" that was barely done fermenting to a sea of thirsty, yet undiscriminating Americans and Brits on the third Thursday of November (and not a minute sooner). The wine ranged from terrible to really terrible but the festive atmosphere and parties that sprung up actually were a lot of fun. I remember one third Thursday I spent many years ago at a swell party with the French Ambassador in New York. The Nouveau arrived to the embassy by horse-drawn carriage at the stroke of midnight. Sure it was crap, but what a party!
Now we're going to do things a little differently. Believe it or not, there are some really great producers of very traditional (traditions that pre-date the 70's) Beaujolais who make delicious wines at super reasonable prices. Tonight, the third Thursday of November we will pour three wines from just such a producer. We'll offer tastes of each wine at The Stage Left Bar. There is no charge.
We will also offer the wines for sale by the quartino. Beaujolais goes great with our burger, by the way. They are exceedingly reasonably priced and go very well with Turkey.
Here is what Eric Asimov of The New York Times has to say of just one of the wines we'll be pouring:
...obviously not new in Saint Amour, as the family has order books that stretch back to customers in Paris prior to the French Revolution. The 2007 Saint Amour is a stellar bottle, with a deep and serious nose of black cherries, pomegranate, a touch of black truffle, complex soil tones, wood-smoke, fresh herbs and a touch of cedar in the upper register. On the palate is full-bodied, deep and succulent, with lovely complexity, a very soil-driven personality for Saint Amour, modest tannins, zesty acids and superb length and grip on the long and intensely flavored finish. This is a stunning bottle of Saint Amour that will age magically- provided one can keep the hands off of it long enough to allow it to develop. It is so tasty right now, that will be no easy task. Clearly Domaine des Billards belongs to be ranked up with the very best producers of Cru Beaujolais.
top by tonight. Try some for yourself and toast the maturing of the American Palate.
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