"Boojolais?"

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Feb 10, 2006 4:58PM

A few months back we wrote about the "let them eat cake" phenomenon of beaujolais nouveau. Chicagoist bought a couple bottles back then to share with friends; even when chilled they were so acidic we feared our faces would freeze into a permanent gas face pose.

One bad experience with wine should not stop stop someone from having more. With a return to form in the weather standard beaujolais is a fine option to chase away the chill of late winter. Like its plebian counterpart, beaujolais is made from the gamay grape (the full name of the grape: Gamay Noir a'Jus Blanc) and is the dominant grape of the southern portion of France's Burgundy region. The wines produced from gamay grapes are high in acidity and low in tannins, so it can be consumed early. Beaujolias makes a great pairing with lighter cheeses, chicken, seafood, and sushi.

Beaujolais is produced using a winemaking process called carbonic maceration during primary fermentation. The grapes are dumped uncrushed into large vats filled with carbon dioxide and a good wine yeast. The grapes at the bottom of the vat are crushed from all the weight put upon them. Fermentation begins with the juice from those grapes, which produces even more CO2, covering the grapes at the top of the vat, effectively preventing those grapes from being exposed to air. In short time, the grapes at the top of the vat begin to ferment and produce more juice. The whole batch is then pressed and forwarded to a traditional fermentation process. Because beaujolais is intended for early consumption it isn't recommended to let a bottle stay cellared for too long, as what tannins there are to be found in beaujolais soften, which only makes the acidity more pronounced.

Following the jump are a list of places that will be holding beaujolais tastings this evening and well into the month. Many of these are complimentary, so now you have a valid excuse to go to a liquor store.

Friday, February 10, 2006 through Saturday, March 4, 2006

Chez Joel
Enjoy bottles of Beaujolais at $20 a bottle with any meal selection!
1119 W Taylor St.
chicago, IL
5:30pm - midnight daily

Friday, February 10, 2006 through Saturday, March 4, 2006

Vintage Wine Bar
Beaujolais and its crus on special! Vintage Wine Bar offers a Beaujolais and appetizer special nightly.
1942 W Division St.
Chicago, IL
5:00 - 11:00pm

Saturday, February 11th, 2006

Chalet Wine and Cheese Shop
Complimentary Beaujolais & Olive Oil tasting.
40 E. Delaware
Gold Coast - Chicago, Il
2:00 - 5:00pm
Phone number: (312) 787-8555

Binny's Ivanhoe Castle
Complimentary Beaujolais & Olive Oil tasting.
3000 N. Clark
1:00 - 4:00pm
Phone number: (773) 935-9400

Sunday, February 12th, 2006

DiCarlo's Armanetti
Complimentary Beaujolais & Olive Oil tasting.
515 N. WESTERN
West Town - Chicago, Il
1:00 - 4:00pm
Phone number: (312) 226-4600

Friday, February 17, 2006 through Saturday, March 4, 2006

Cafe Bernard/Red Rooster Cafe
Cafe Bernard has Beaujolais prix-fixe menus and/or Beaujolais food pairings. Red Rooster offers Beaujolais cru flights nightly.
2100 North Halsted
Chicago, IL
5:00 - 11:00pm

Saturday, February 18th, 2006

Kafka Wine Company
Complimentary Beaujolais & Olive Oil tasting.
3325 N. Halsted Street
Chicago, IL
2:00 - 5:00pm

Binny's On Grand
Complimentary Beaujolais & European Olive Oil tasting.
213 W. Grand Avenue
1:00 - 4:00pm
Phone number: (312) 332-0012

Friday, February 24th, 2006

Binny's On Grand
Complimentary Beaujolais & European Olive Oil tasting.
213 W. Grand Avenue
4:00 - 7:00pm
Phone number: (312) 332-0012

Binny's Express- Hyde Park
Complimentary Beaujolais & Olive Oil tasting.
1531 E. 53rd Street
Chicago, IL
3:00 - 6:00pm

Friday, February 24, 2006 through Saturday, March 4, 2006

Cyrano's Bistrot
Half price bottle of the Beaujolais of your selection of any three-course dinner!
546 N. Wells St.
5:00pm - midnight daily

Saturday, February 25th, 2006

Binny's Ivanhoe Castle
Complimentary Beaujolais & Olive Oil tasting.
3000 N. Clark
1:00 - 4:00pm
Phone number: (773) 935-9400

Chalet Wine and Cheese Shop
Complimentary Beaujolais & Olive Oil tasting.
40 E. Delaware
2:00 - 5:00pm
Phone number: (312) 787-8555