A toast to grape expectations
Beaujolais nouveau is traditionally enjoyed within weeks of its release, but the Northern Ohio Wine Guild is discovering that some vintages are worth the wait.
Meant to celebrate the harvest, Beaujolais nouveau is not a sophisticated wine, but rather an easy-drinking quaff meant to be enjoyed early.
Did you know that 90% of Beaujolais nouveau wine is consumed before the end of November? The clock is ticking.
“The third Thursday of November is the worldwide release of Beaujolais nouveau,” says Jim Sperk of the Northern Ohio Wine Guild (NOWG). “The grapes for this wine were still on the vine six weeks before the release.”
Meant to celebrate the harvest, this is not a sophisticated wine, but rather an easy-drinking quaff meant to be enjoyed early.
Jim says the third Thursday of November also happens to be the Northern Ohio Wine Guild’s meeting day.
“At that particular meeting, we have held a Beaujolais Fest for more than a dozen years,” says Jim. “Each year, we have put aside a bottle to try and answer a question that may never have even been asked: Can Beaujolais nouveau wine improve through aging?”
Jim explains that in 2025, NOWG started with samples of the 2024 vintage and worked back to 2014, minus the 2019 and 2020 vintages (no samples were acquired during Covid).
The results:
- 2024 - Several members stated this vintage had aged well. Other comments: Medium body, slight acid, lingering finish and nice tannins.
- 2023 - Consensus was that these wines can benefit from two years of aging—a surprising and enjoyable wine.
- 2022 - Quite an acceptable table wine, with one judge noting a long finish.
- 2021 - A bit of bricking on the rim; a hint of oxidation. Also noticeable: The fruit was fading.
- 2018 - A bit more oxidation, but with notes of tobacco and chocolate on the aftertaste.
- 2017 - More oxidation, some sediment.
- 2016 - Oxidation, considerable sediment. One comment mentioned a smoky aroma.
- 2015 - Light oxidation, not much sediment. A smooth texture and a long finish. Also noted this vintage included a synthetic cork that may have helped it age better than the samples from the previous three years.
- 2014 - Not much to discuss for this wine. No fruit, no tannins, just alcohol.
“The Guild will conduct a Beaujolais Fest this year, along with an educational presentation,” says Jim. “We are one of the few groups to celebrate in Ohio, but hundreds are celebrating around the world.”
For information about the Northern Ohio Wine Guild, contact Jim Sperk at tinymoonwines@usa.net.
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