2004 Beaujolais Nouveau

Thursday Morning - 18th November 2004.
Customers and patrons of the Restaurant du Delice in Gavray get an early opportunity to taste this year's beaujolais primeur and let the forum know, in their own words, what they think of the 2004. If Beaujolais nouveau gives any indication of what this year's production will be like and, if our French contributors know anything at all about wine (questionable), then this will be a very useful post for all members. Wines to be tasted - Frederic Pastel Beaujolais Nouveau 2004. Expectations - if it has half the fruit and concentration of last year's we won't be disappointed; yields being as high as they are this (wet) year we're hoping for something worth tasting, but with a sense of guarded optimism. Tasting notes published Thursday evening...

Robe going from beetroot juice red to violet/pink at the rim. Definite aromas of red fruits esp. raspberries. More alcohol than fruit with marked secondary aromas esp. pear-drops. A bit more than balanced acidity - tart? Not the concentrated, fruity wine of last year but tasty and full in spite of all the rain this year.

Other comments from our panel of French experts(?):

Ca pique un peu / It's a bit sharp
C'est de la vinaigre / It's vinegar
Ce n'est pas mal / It's not bad