Wine: Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Villages.
Grape: Gamay.
Region: Beaujolais, France.
Vintage: 1993 or any recent year.
BEAUJOLAIS Nouveau, that much-hyped dark purple, fruity, tannic hangover inducer, released each year on the third Thursday of November only two months after ripening on the vine is thankfully no longer enjoying much success. Many wine drinkers believe it is the only type of Beaujolais. How wrong they are! While the basic appellation is Beaujolais, next in the hierarchy are the Beaujolais Villages and the 10 single cru wines of Brouilly, Chenas, Chiroubles, Cote de Brouilly, Fleurie, Julienas, Morgon, Moulin-a-Vent, Regnie and St Amour.
It is the latter wines that provide good quality if slightly more expensive drinking. Georges Duboeuf is known as the king of Beaujolais and has done much to promote its wines. Although Duboeuf is responsible for more than 10 per cent of the wine produced in Beaujolais, his quality is always high. The wine recommended is fresh, fruity, smooth and velvety and is a quite delicious, moorish drink. Served lightly chilled in summer, it goes particularly well with salmon dishes.
