We have Beaujolais Nouveau. As every year for the last few we have bought a couple of dozen bottles of Beaujolais Nouveau from Nick Dobson Wines. And today is release day, so our consignment arrived in the middle of the morning. I had to resist cracking open a bottle until this evening.
In fact what we have is a dozen bottles from each of two houses:

• Domaine Philippe Deschamps, Beaujolais Nouveau
• Vincent Lacondemine, Beaujolais Villages Nouveau

Over the years these two have produced some absolutely stunning Nouveau — in fact last year’s has matured brilliantly and we are lucky to still have some; it really is rather wonderful a year on, although I think it may not keep another year. Vincent Lacondemine also produces some gorgeous, regular Beaujolais Villages vintages.

This is a photo I took of a Lacondemine bottle a few years ago;
it could just as easily be the one I opened a short while ago
So this evening we have tried the Lacondemine Nouveau. OK, you know immediately it is a very young wine. And maybe this year’s is a bit thinner and less fruity than the last couple of years — hardly surprising considering the appalling start to the summer; it has been a difficult year for wine growers. But it is definitely very, very drinkable.
We’ve just downed a bottle with some smoked duck, bean and pasta salad. But it would go well with something like a spaghetti bolognese, a hearty risotto, cheese, or just on it’s own!
I shall report back when we’ve tried the Philippe Deschamps, probably tomorrow — I wasn’t allowed to open a second bottle this evening. Humph!