November 7, 2002

Best Beaujolais

November 21 could see the release of the best Beaujolais Nouveau for years, despite unseasonal bad weather threatening the harvest.

According to the Union Interprofessionnelle des Vins de Beaujolais in Villefranche-sur-Saône, early tasting of this year’s vintage suggests a wine of 'intense colour and offering unusual spicy notes with hints of kirsch'.

Maurice Carroll of wine and travel website, winedrive.com, said this could be the best year since the mid 1980's. "If the early indications are correct, the results will come as a great relief to the growers who have seen a steady fall of interest in the annual release. With the ready availability of better and cheaper wines from elsewhere, Nouveau has lost its edge. Perhaps the quality of this year's wine will help correct that."

Most harvesting in Beaujolias is by hand with more than 35,000 pickers striving to get the grapes in on time. A brief 'Indian summer' during September made up for a lack of sunshine and allowed time to complete the harvest before the rains returned.

Added Maurice Carroll: "Very noticeable red fruit aromas were produced during the first stages of fermentation, and the expert's assessment is very encouraging. The signs look good for wine lovers who like young, fresh, fruity wines."

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