Another nail in the coffin?

One of the things I find amazing (and often frustrating) about the web is the way you find things. Pull up one page, link to another page which quotes a third page and so on. Such is how I found this:

Among Toledo-area consumers, beaujolais nouveau less bodacious

I suppose Toledo could be used as a microcosm of the U.S. I have never been there, but why the hell not?

"retailers this year report sluggish sales because of a 25 percent price increase, some anti-French sentiment among consumers, and what many perceive as a fad that has run its course.

"It was a fun thing for a while, but consumers are looking for some more serious wines," said Richard Fortney, owner of Maumee Wines."

I'll give the $US vs. Euro thing, every time a container hits our shores, the wines go up a price point or two. The anti-French bit is getting a little tired. To be honest, I have had to talk a few people 'off the ledge' but for the most part, this has been a non-issue. Of course, I only deal in European wines so maybe that automatically negates the 'Frog-haters'. And for the rest of you still waving the flag, boycotting France for whatever reasons, 'Don't hate the playa, hate the game'. And lastly, I think that this thing really has run its course.

I will admit to not being a huge fan of Gamay (grown in Beaujolais or otherwise). There are some very good/excellent wines made from this grape but it has been my experience that they come from Moulin-á-Vent or Morgon. I would also like to believe that generally speaking - (I repeat, generally speaking), the portion of the American public that is buying wine is better educated about that which they buy. Given this, I think most people are starting to recognize Beaujolais Nouveau for what it is: a monument to marketing. That, in and of itself is an impressive thing. The efforts of Deboeuf and others have gone over gangbusters in the past and (hopefully) brought wine into more peoples' lives.

A side note: From the article:

"Though similar in style to the French versions, the California wines labeled "Gamay Beaujolais" are actually made with Pinot Noir and Valdiguie grapes. But, she added, there has been a sense of fun surrounding the name beaujolais nouveau, which will be phased out in America by 2007."

I guess I was asleep at the wheel when this one came down. A little more research, and I found this

"Due to the lobbying efforts of French purists, wineries will only be able to use the term on American products until 2007. After that, they'll have to come up with another name.

Right on. Score one for the French. I should say that I take exception with the notion that it was the 'purists' that got this passed and somehow that is a negative. If American wineries are making wines from grapes other that Gamay, and it isn't grown in Beaujolais, why should they get to bite on the 'fame' of the region? For the record, Valdiguie is also known as 'Gros Auxerrois' and was later named Napa Gamay.

Don't drink the kool-aid, look into Morgon instead.