The white wine, that happens to be red. (Beaujolais)

Member Name: giksy21

Product:	Beaujolais
Date:	22/09/08 (171 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: easy to drink, fresh and crisp

Disadvantages: perhaps too simple for the red wine gurus amongst us

For many reasons, I am a firm believer that all the best wines are red. However, on my travels I have come to the conclusion that in todays society, red wine has lost a lot of its appeal.

Hopefully, today I can do my little bit to redress that.

Firstly, let me ask you a question. What is it that you do not like about red wine? I would hazard a guess that it is its tendency to be dry, bitter on the tongue? The fact that it a lot heavier, and more complex than a white? I am right, am i not?

Well, before you completely rule out red wines, do me one favour, yeah? Give a Beaujolais a go, in particular, Beaujolais nouveau. I was first introduced to this on my recent trip to Paris (feel free to check out the review!!! LOL.). Although I am already a fan of red wine in general, I was attracted by its simplicity. It is this simplicity, that I think will allow even the novice to red to enjoy it.

The Beaujolais region of France, is situated just north of Lyon. It runs between the Burgundy, and the Rhones region, intermingling with both at some point. Although geographically it is thought to be part of Burgundy, its different climate, and topology allow it to be considered as a wine producing region in its own right.

The main grape of the region is gamay. It characteristically has a very thin skin, which leads to a light-bodied wine, with very few tannins. Now for the unlearned on the matter, it is the tannin in a wine that makes it dry to taste, and somewhat bitter in the mouth. Tannin is found on the skin of the grape, and is what makes a red grape look as though it has been 'dusted' with a littl powder.
The gamay, is a cross between a pinot noir, and a gouais (an ancient white grape.). It is this cross, that makes it so light for a red grape, and gives the wine created many of the characteristics of a white wine. This is partly why the Beaujolais is one of the only red wines that is to be served chilled.

Beaujolais, due to its simplicity, is seen as red wine at its most basic level. It is created for drinking. I know that this sounds silly, as all wine is made to be drunk, but what I mean to say is that it is made in such a way that it can be drunk quickly. It is one of the few wines that does not age well. Generally it begins with harvest in late August, and is sent to market to be sold and drunk on the third thursday of november (Beaujolais day.). After that, it is best drunk in the first few months, with only the best vintages drinking well outside the first year.

The grapes are picked by hand, and is fermented by carbonic maceration. In most basic terms, this means that the whole grape is fermented in a carbon dioxide rich environment. The grapes juices, in essence, ferment while still inside the grape. This means that the tannin of the skin is not extracted, and therefore the wine will hold only the fruit flavours. In many cases, due to this fermentation, flavours such as pear, and banana are evident. To the nose, it is pure red fruit.

Pure fruit, red berries and pears are left for the drinker. Almost like fruit juice, it tastes very little of alcohol. However, the minimum requirement for a wine of this type is that it has to be 10% alcohol by volume. When I drink it, I find that it creeps up on you. So light and simple, that it can be drunk on its own, but also with the characteristics of a white wine that make it perfect to be drunk with fish, or chicken dishes.

The Beaujolais nouveau, is the lightest of the wines from this region, and is the easiest for the red wine virgin to enjoy. It has been called a white wine, that happens to be red, and this is quite apt. Even for the more experienced, it offers something with its fresness unequalled by any other red.

All that needs to be said now, is for you guys to make me a promise. Try this before you write-off red wine. I can promise you that it will not be a waste of time, and that if you open your mind and your heart to it, you may well be surprised. Feel free to leave comment if you find this helpful, and also I would be genuinely interested to see if you took my advice, and tried a bottle. And if so, was i right or wrong?

Recommended, to even the red wine virgin!!! G

Summary: The white wine, that happens to be red.