Every year on the third Thursday of November, just after the strike of midnight, Beaujolais Nouveau is released and we get our first taste of the year's harvest.
While there are two types of Beaujolais, Nouveau and Cru, tonight is Nouveau night. Both are from Burgundy and made from the Gamay grape.
Beaujolais Nouveau is a fun, fruity, sometimes good, sometimes not-so-good wine that is as much about pomp and circumstance as it is about the wine itself. It is an easy drinking wine and a great excuse for a Thursday night celebration.
... Thus putting an end to disputes over what wine goes with a Thanksgiving menu.
"fun, fruity, sometimes good, sometimes not-so-good.."
I KNOW him! Wait! I AM him...
(wende-- I am an annual guest at the house of a wonderfully eccentric foodie who insists all wines brought to and consumed at her Thanksgiving food fete are American-produced, so Beaujolais wouldn't fly with her.)
Oh, Luigi--
Some alternative domestic suggestions, please?
P2 - I will be drinking a Barbera D'ALBA (red) and/or TOCAI FRIULIANO (white) on Turkey day, but if your host insists on American wines, I would go for a Pinot Noir(Iron Horse or Hansel Russian River Valley) or a Sauvignon Blanc (Cakebread from Napa valley) A good resource would be Crossroads on 14th St or Acker-Merrel on 72nd.
Not sure what your budget is, but these stores can guide you in the right direction.I would avoid American Chardonnay since most of it tastes like paint thinner or a plank of wood.
Dear All You Wine Lovers,
When the AT food site (The Kitchen) launches (soon!! soon!!) we will have some suggestions for Thanksgiving wines. You just wait! In the meantime, you should read Eric Asimov's column in yesterday's Dining In section: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/15/dining/16wine2.html
cheers,
Sara Kate
I am so disappointed in this year's BN. I usually love it, but it tasted watered down to me but then hit me like a ton of bricks after 2 glasses...I usually drink BN throughout the winter but now will not be able to. So sad.