If you are at all interested in the winemaking process and are looking for an example of what carbonic maceration and cold fermentation temperatures do to a wine, look no further than the traditional icon of the new harvest — Nouveau Beaujolais. The most noticeable byproduct when it comes to the above noted processes is isoamyl acetate, which creates the aroma and flavor of ripe bananas. You may already be thinking that bananas aren’t what you’re looking for in a red wine, but you’d be missing out on a historic part of wine culture in the world by passing this up, not to mention a unique and tasty glass. This bottle tames the banana with cherry, blueberry and spice notes without removing it entirely, preserving its charms or perhaps creating them. It’s a tightrope walk to get the characteristic to speak with a pleasant voice, and it’s certainly accomplished here.
Georges Duboeuf, Beaujolais-Villages-Nouveau AOP (France) 2020
By Rich Cook