"I have it here" says the courier as he strolls in with a bottle of Beaujolais Nouveau 2005 wine. The unveiling was held at Grogge Shoppe, Devon House, Hope Road on Thursday.
Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter
THE ANTICIPATION; high like the cost of living. The patience required; Job-like.
Why a bunch of grown people would stand in the middle of the Grog Shoppe waiting to imbibe is beyond some people. But not when the libations they are waiting for is Beaujolais Nouveau. The unveiling of the new wine from the Beaujolais region of France has become a much beloved event on the almanac.
Before we delve any further into what took place at Devon House on Thursday, a little history is necessary. The people of the wine growing Beaujolais region took barrels of new wine, still not totally fermented for the people of Lyon (a city to the south of the region) to sample. The wine, as you would figure by now, was to their liking and the rest is, well, you know.
TRADITION
And so the tradition continues approximately a century after it started. On the third Thursday of every November, wine connoisseurs and tasters gather for the arrival of Le Beaujolais Nouveau. J. Wray and Nephew has the distinction of being the company to provide Jamaicans with this almost sacred liquor. The people of Lyon no longer have it to themselves but who better to introduce this latest batch than a native of Lyon, Georges Vanin, First Counsellor at the French Embassy. J. Wray and Nephew's Larry Watson told the gathering that hail storms hampered the harvest of the grapes in September, but even though the production was low, the vintage is excellent. In fact, the talk is that this is the best collection in 50 years!
The atmosphere of anticipation was enhanced by MC Derval Malcolm who was always going 'live' to reporters on screen at various locations between Norman Manley International Airport (when the wine clears customs) and Devon House, its destination. Then at about five minutes past the hour of eight, accompanied by police outriders, the wine was ushered in.
Finally, the guests got what they had been waiting for; a chance to sample the Beaujolais Nouveau 2005. And the taste? A rich, delectable conglomerate of flavour, including blackberries, violets and even hints of spices. Rums, Roast and Royals was offering up some excellent discounts if you purchased right then and there.
Ahh, Le Beaujolais! Can't wait for next year.
