Last night was the third Thursday of November, which is known by wine aficionados as Nouveau Beaujolais… the debut of France’s first wine’s newest vintage which is ordained by law not to be released a moment before midnight of this day.
Of course, those partaking of the newest Beaujolais as soon as it arrives in the United States should be warned that most wines need a few weeks to rest after they have undergone intercontinental travel, otherwise the Beaujolais tastes like vinegar that’s cleaned barn stables. This doesn’t stop many US wine stores from getting into the Nouveau Beaujolais spirit with a party/tasting! even if the Beaujolais underwhelms…
We arrived at our local wine store at 8:45, on the tail end of their Nouveau Beaujolais celebration. After we picked up our tasting glasses, the owner of the store made a beeline to us. He knows us as good customers by sight.
“Welcome, welcome, I just want to apologize for the music, but all French music is really horrible!” he said, grinning. Obviously he had been tasting the new Beaujolais extensively. “I apologize if you’re from France! Ha ha ha!”
I pointed at Mr. P. “Actually, I am from France,” he admitted.
“No shit? Well, next year , you’ll have to give me music to play, because I couldn’t find any good French music at all!” he said, patting Mr. P on the shoulder. “I’ll hold you to that.”
“Well, there’s always Edith Piaf,” Mr. P said.
The owner adopted a look of mock outrage, turned to me and asked, “Did he just call me an asshole?”
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On that note, I’m off to go indulge my inner Griswold…
