In the glass
What it pairs with
-
Charcuterie nouvelle saison
Nouveau and the autumn charcuterie harvest are a traditional seasonal pairing. -
Plateau de fromages frais
Light, fruit-forward Nouveau pairs best with fresh, mild cheeses. -
Tarte tatin aux pommes
The wine's soft fruit and gentle sweetness match warm apple tarte tatin.
How to serve Beaujolais Nouveau
Allow 65 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 60 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 14-16°C. Cellar temperature (14-16°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a Burgundy bowl with a wide opening: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Charcuterie nouvelle saison, Plateau de fromages frais, Tarte tatin aux pommes. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Georges Duboeuf did more than any producer to internationalise Beaujolais Nouveau, orchestrating dramatic release-day shipments to Paris restaurants and export markets from the 1960s onwards. The third-Thursday-in-November release convention was formalised by French law in 1985.
- 1967 — Duboeuf begins marketing Beaujolais Nouveau as a global event wine
- 1985 — French law fixes the Beaujolais Nouveau release date as the third Thursday of November
Facts
- Producer
- Maison Georges Duboeuf
- Grapes
- Gamay
- Classification
- Beaujolais AOC
- Oak
- Stainless steel; no wood; carbonic maceration
- ABV
- 12.0%
- Price
- €8-12 at retail
- Drinking window
- 0-1 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1967
Frequently asked about Beaujolais Nouveau
What does Beaujolais Nouveau taste like?
Structurally light-bodied, low tannins, medium acidity with a short finish. Duboeuf's Beaujolais Nouveau is the widely-distributed reference for the third-Thursday-November release: carbonic-maceration Gamay bottled and released on the third Thursday of November, with characteristically exuberant fruit and soft structure.
When should I drink Beaujolais Nouveau?
Drink 0-1 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Beaujolais Nouveau?
Charcuterie nouvelle saison is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Plateau de fromages frais and Tarte tatin aux pommes. Nouveau and the autumn charcuterie harvest are a traditional seasonal pairing.
What grapes are in Beaujolais Nouveau?
The blend is Gamay. The wine is classified as Beaujolais AOC.