Did You Like Last Year's Beaujolais?

Seven days to release. Nobody knows what this year's Beaujolais Nouveau tastes like yet. And whether you liked last year's — without a record, memory is all you have.

Whether you drank it last year or never have, the material for deciding this year is the same. Do you like light reds? Do you like fruity aromas? Do you prefer less tannin? Those three questions settle most of it.

First, the answer: without a record, you can't be sure

To be honest, few people can put last year's taste into words. You feel like you drank it. The taste is gone. That is normal.

The clues to remembering are in the scene, not the taste itself.

"Did you buy another" comes closest to an answer about liking it. If you bought one, you liked it. If you didn't, that was all it was at the time.

If you can't remember, that is fine. Make this the year you taste it for yourself.

Deciding whether to buy this year: what Beaujolais Nouveau is

Beaujolais Nouveau is a red wine made from Gamay. It is made by carbonic maceration — fermenting the grapes in a carbon-dioxide-rich environment. It is light, fruity, and low in tannin. It is meant to be drunk young, within a few months of release. Serve it lightly chilled, around 12–14°C.

Don't decide by whether you drank it last year. Decide by whether the red you want now is this kind of red.

• If you like light reds with fruity aromas, it will probably suit you.
• If you like heavier, more tannic reds, it may not.

"I drank it last year, so I'll buy it this year" is not a reason. Last year and this year are different wines. Even from the same producer, the taste is not guaranteed to be the same.

What should you go by when buying? If you have a record, check the name, the producer, and your own note. If you don't, tell the shop staff the direction of your taste. "A light, fruity red" is enough.

→ What to Ask the Staff at a Wine Shop｜PourPin

Beaujolais Nouveau Q&A

Q1. How was last year's vintage?
I don't know. What matters more than the vintage's reputation is how you felt at the first sip. Last year's vintage can't predict this year's.

Q2. Will the same producer taste the same as last year?
Not necessarily. The winemaking changes every year. Your condition and the occasion change how it tastes, too.

Q3. Can I still buy it after the release date?
Yes. The release date is the day sales begin. But Nouveau is a wine to drink young — within a few months of release is the guide. It is not a wine to keep.

Q4. How can I check whether I drank it last year?
Scroll back a year in your phone photos or social media posts. If a photo of the label is there, the name and producer are in it. How to photograph a label is covered here.

→ Tips for Photographing a Wine Label｜PourPin

In short

• Without a record, you can't be sure whether you liked last year's.
• Decide this year by the direction of your own taste, not by last year's vintage. If you like light, fruity reds with little tannin, it will probably suit you.
• If you have a record, check the name, the producer, and your note. If you don't, tell the shop staff the direction of your taste.
• "I drank it last year, so I'll buy it this year" is not a reason. Last year and this year are different wines.

Today's one action: try recording once, with tonight's bottle. Photograph the label and add a one-line note. Then on November 19 you won't have to hesitate.

"Want it again" or "that's enough" — that one line will be the most reliable material for next year's you.

Keep a record of each bottle as you drink it. POURPIN records up to 30 bottles free, and you can try 3 as a guest without signing up. Photograph the label and it reads the name, producer, region, and importer. Once your records build up, Premium (¥300/month or ¥3,000/year) adds detailed search and Export (CSV/JSON).