Everything old is new again. Hipsters are wearing Ray Ban Wayfarer sunglasses. Fashionistas are donning skinny ties. And now it might be time for winos to start sipping Beaujolais Nouveau — the oft maligned juice that invades supermarket floor space every November 17. Mind you, I haven’t had BN since I was a wee nipper, and have generally thought of it as plonk. But I am willing to hop on the bandwagon and give it another whirl, especially because I have become a big Gamay fan over the past few years (in particular, the Foillard Côte du Py and just about anything made by Julien Sunier).
Still scared that you’re going to lose your wine geek street cred by drinking Beaujolais Nouveau? How about this: Arlequin, Heart, and Kermit Lynch are all doing the Nouveau thing this week. And Selection Massale is now importing a Beaujolais Nouveau from Maison P-U-R, whose winemakers happen to be pouring their BN at NOMA in Copenhagen (a two-Michellin Star restaurant) on 11/17. BOO-YAH!
You’ll probably see me bouncing around proclaiming the Gamay Gospel at many of the Beaujolais-related events below.
[NOTE – this is not an invitation to go out and buy anything that is labeled as Beaujolais Nouveau in your grocery store. There’s way too much industrialized fruit juice out there bearing the BN label, and you’ll want to avoid throwing money in that direction. Look for quality producers or importers that you trust from local wine shops.]
For more on the uptick in quality Beaujolais, see this article from Eric Asimov of the New York Times. Although it focuses on Cru Beaujolais, it’s worth reading.
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Wed., Nov. 16: Peay Dinner at Bourbon Steak (INSERT)
Bourbon Steak (Westin St. Francis)
335 Powell Street
San Francisco, CA
$120 per person, plus tax and gratuity
Y’all have heard me rave about Peay’s Pinot and Syrah, sourced from some far northern Sonoma Coast vineyards. Here’s you chance to try them the way they should be served — with food!
Dungeness Crab risotto
Corn Emulsion, Crab Butter, Parmesan Reggiano
Peay Chardonnay 2007
Peay Chardonnay 2008
Prather Ranch Rack of Lamb
Caponata, Chic Pea Puree, Pomegranate Gastrique
Peay Pinot Noir Ama 2009
Peay Pinot Noir Scallop Shelf 2009
Herb crusted Prime Rib eye
Parmesan Gnocchiti, Nettle Puree, ‘La Bruma’ Estate Syrah Sauce
Peay Syrah 2002
Peay Syrah la bruma 2008
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Thurs., Nov. 17: Beaujolais Party at Arlequin (Hayes Valley)
Arlequin Wine Merchants
384 Hayes Street
San Francisco, CA
6:00pm – 8:00pm – $25
This is going to be a serious throw down, with over 20 different wines being poured. And it will not only be limited to Beaujolais Nouveau, as there will also be wines from the 10 “crus” (including Morgan, Fleurie, and Regnie) as well as some village wines.
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Thurs., Nov. 17: Beaujolais Tasting at The Punchdown (Oakland)
The Punchdown
2212 Brodway
Oakland, CA
5:30pm – 8:30pm – $15 (three wines, 2-ounce pours)
Out in the East Bay on Thursday? Well, your local neighborhood wine pushers at The Punchdown have your Beaujolais cravings covered. Join Cory Cartwright from Selection Massale to try wines from their new Beaujolais producer, Maison P-U-R. Special $15 tasting flight includes:
-2011 Jean Foillard Beaujolais Nouveau
-2011 P-U-R Beaujolais Nouveau by Cyril Alonso & Florian Looze
-2010 P-U-R “Morgon Côte du Py” Beaujolais by Cyril Alonso & Florian Looze
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Fri., Nov. 18: Beaujolais Tasting Drinking at Heart (Mission)
Heart Wine Bar
1270 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA
More Beaujolais, more Nouveau! Cory and Guillhaume from Selection Massale will be in the house, pouring BN from P-U-R. I’m taking a cab to and from this event because I know some of the riff-raff who are planning to show up — they likes to open ze wine.
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Sat., Nov. 19: Kermit Lynch Beaujolais Party (East Bay)
Kermit Lynch Wine Merchants
1605 San Pablo Avenue
Berkeley, CA
11:00am – 4:00pm
Kermit has a few different Beaujolais producers in his portfolio that you may have heard of: Lapierre, Foillard, Thévenet. So I trust that when he decides to import some Beaujolais Nouveau, it will probably be pretty darn good. Drink some wine, and have some grub provided by Alice Waters’ Café Fanny.
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Sat., Nov. 19: Pinot Fest at Farallon (Financial District)
Farallon Restaurant
450 Post Street
San Francisco, CA
3:00pm – 6:00pm – $100 (tix here)
There’s really nothing I can say about this event that isn’t covered by simply listing the wineries involved. Loco, loco lineup. Well worth that Benjamin.
Adelsheim, Alma Rosa, Argyle, Au Bon Climat, Bonaccorsi, Brewer Clifton, Brittan, Byron, Calera, Cambria, Chehalem, Cobb, Costa de Oro, Domaine Drouhin, Domaine Serene, Drake, El Molino, Etude, Failla, Fiddlehead, Flowers, Foxen, Gloria Ferrer, Freeman, Greenwood Ridge, Handley, Hartford, Hendry, Hitching Post, Iron Horse, J Vineyards, Keller Estate, Lioco, Littorai, Londer, Lynmar, Marimar Estate, Melville, Merry Edwards, Michaud, Morgan, Patz & Hall, Paul Hobbs, Peay, Pey-Marin, Radio Coteau, Robert Sinskey, Saintsbury, Siduri, Skewis, Soliste, Soter, Talley, Tendril, Testarossa, Thomas Fogarty, Twomey, Whitcraft, Williams Selyem
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