2012 Jean Foillard, Beaujolais Nouveau, France.
The third Thursday of November is the legal day to start celebrating the years harvest with the day Beaujolais is released and it has become a day to party and enjoy the graces of Gamay. Most often you see garish Duboeuf bottles, but sometimes you find gems like Foillard and while 2012 looks to be a difficult vintage across France, Foillard’s Nouveau is a pretty wine and has subtle complexity with blackberry, cherry and tangerine citrus flavors with hints of pepper and herbs. Jean Foillard, in case you hadn’t heard of makes some of the finest wines in the region from his winery in Morgon, his Cru Beaujolais are stunning wines and are regarded as some of the best Gamay wines made, period. I think he is my favorite and I always grab as many as I can get, and his fun Nouveau is a wine I look forward to and enjoy over the holidays. Beaujolais Nouveau is celebrating it’s 30 years of celebrating this year and I look forward to many more, especially with Foillard’s examples of this light and bright fruity red.
($20 Est.) 90 Points, grapelive
Imported by Kermit Lynch
Avail at www.sfwtc.com ($18)