This year's version of the Beaujolais made its debut at midnight and will be at the center of many tasting parties by wine lovers today all around the world. Problems may arise, however, as this year's crop was cut in half by bad weather in France this season, weather which included heavy rains, hail and frost. The low harvest has caused many growers to file bankruptcy.
Beaujolais is a wine made from Gamay grapes and is fermented or aged for only a few weeks before being bottled. It is meant to be drunk immediately as storing will not improve this wine. By French law no Nouveau can be sold until midnight of the third Thursday in November.
There is some speculation that the smaller berries as a result of the bad weather will have a greater concentration of flavor thus producing a good tasting wine. We shall see as will all other wine lovers. In St.Louis it looks as though Straub's will have the 2012 version today and probably others but it often happens that this area has to wait a couple of days beyond the 15th.
I'd wager the price will be higher this year due to the smaller crop.
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