Wine lovers sample nouveau vintage
GREENWICH - Pop quiz: How many miles long is the Beaujolais region of France, just north of Lyon?
Is it A) 16 or B) 28 or C) 34?
The answer is "C," which won Kathy Gallagher of Tiverton, R.I., a colorful Beaujolais Nouveau-inspired scarf Thursday at Restaurant Jean-Louis during its annual Beaujolais Nouveau Day celebrations.
In the absence of Jean-Louis Gerin himself, who was in France, importer Eric Litchfield of North Haven-based Slocum & Sons was host of the event, giving an overview of the wine and testing about 20 guests on what they had learned.
"I love people that pay attention," Litchfield told Gallagher before passing her the prize.
Litchfield was joking - Beaujolais Nouveau Day is one time each year when wine isn't serious. Traditionally uncorked the third Thursday of November, the light, fruity red is made from handpicked Gamay grapes that are fermented and promptly pasteurized. Bottled six to eight weeks ago, it is a young wine made more for quaffing than sipping and critiquing.
That said, Litchfield called this year's vintage far better than last year's. Poor weather, however, produced the smallest crop since 1975.
Litchfield said 65 million bottles are consumed each Beaujolais Nouveau Day around the world, many in high-demand countries such as the United States and Japan. Two million bottles are consumed in Paris alone.
Restaurant Jean-Louis had secured 72 bottles and one rare small oak barrel.
"I actually think the Beaujolais
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Nouveau in the barrel is a little richer," Jill Page of Greenwich said when asked which variation she preferred.
Page's tablemate, Deborah Berry of Greenwich, however, preferred the bottle.
"I like a lighter red," she said.
Neither Page nor Berry, veterans of the annual lunch, noticed a difference between last year's vintage and this year's. But Stephen Cole of North Stamford said 2008 by far outdid 2006, his last Beaujolais Nouveau.
"The food and the wine are both excellent this year," he said, sinking his fork into a warm country-style pate, served a la Wellington, the first course of a $50 prix fixe menu that featured a choice of slow-cooked veal cheeks or filet of trout.
"This is just a fun event," said Litchfield, pouring Georges Duboeuf brand Beaujolais and consulting diners on which wines to pair with Thanksgiving dinner. Riesling is best. "Beaujolais Nouveau is really festive."
The festivities continued Thursday evening at Le Gourmet and Le Wine Shop on Elm Street, where more than 45 people attended.
Le Wine Shop associate Alex Pichon, a French native, said he was excited to take part in the event.
"It's a really big tradition," Pichon said. "Every bar starts pouring the Beaujolais Nouveau in every French town."
As for Pichon's recommended brand, he said he was impressed by the Joseph Drouhin.
"I was really happy and surprised," he said. "It was very light and fruity. I didn't expect such quality from this vintage, which was a difficult vintage."