Japan's Mercian Beaujolais Nouveau to Come in Plastic Bottles

TOKYO-Japan's Mercian Corp. will sell a portion of the upcoming vintage's Beaujolais Nouveau, the traditional first wine of the grape harvest in France, in plastic bottles. 

The bottles will be treated to make them less permeable to oxygen, according to Wednesday's announcement. And at just 50 grams, they will help cut down on shipping costs compared with the conventional glass bottles weighing 450 grams. 

Mercian says prices will likely be 10-15 percent lower as a result, with a 750 ml bottle expected to retail for around 2,000 yen (US$21). This year's Beaujolais Nouveau goes on sale Nov. 19.

Of the 64,100 cases Mercian expects to sell in 2009, wines in the plastic bottles will account for 5,000.