Not one to get into the Beaujolais spirit? You aren't alone. In fact, one contrarian wine merchant is hosting a no-holds-barred “No More Nouveau” wine tasting in honor of the big day, choosing instead to uncork the best of Cru Beaujolais wines from France’s top natural winemakers. On Thursday, November 19, Arlequin Wine Merchant, which is part of the Absinthe and Arlequin café trilogy in Hayes, will be celebrating what they call the “real” Beaujolais from award-winning Cru Beaujolais producers including Marcel Lapierre, Guy Breton, Pierre Chermette, Jean Paul Brun, Alain Coudert, John-Paul Thévenet and more. These wines are made using the so-called vieux (old) way, fermented on natural yeasts and bottled unfiltered, resulting in a wine that’s richer, broader and boasts denser reds than the Beaujolais Nouveau most wine drinkers are familiar with (6–8 PM; $15 per person; 384 Hayes St, all featured wines will be available for purchase at special event pricing).
For a taste of some less-nouveau Beaujolais, head over to RN74, where sommelier Ragat Parr won’t be pouring the new stuff, but rather will be opening a bountiful selection of Beaujolais from 2005–2008, available by the bottle or by the glass.