1st shipment of this year's Beaujolais Nouveau arrives in Japan

holding midnight parties.

Still? Maybe the narikin (nouveau riche) of the bubble era when being first in the world to drink the stuff massaged their egos, but is it still a thing in Japan? Well, I saw a left-hand drive Merc the other day so such trite ostentation is still in, I guess, for those who have the money and motive.

ah yes, for the discerning swill drinker.

When I was in France I drank wine. Some was pretty good, some was awful bad. Beaujolais Nouveau was the best. Sure wish I were in Japan. Or France. I'm no wine expert, mind, but I know what I like.

Such a strange but typical Japanese gimmick! Never really understood it as I don't like that type of wine but every year like clockwork all the stores stock this season's offering and the punters lap it up

I like Beaujolais - the matured version, but Nouveau? No way! This is watery bilge completely devoid of any character.

The Nouveau Beaujolais is nothing of a good wine, except the best bottles flow to Japan and China. The quality sold in France is poor but there is no need of a good wine to end drunk, the main purpose of the event

Beaujolais Nouveau is all about marketing since 70 years ago. They started to sell this cheap wine by creating events in France, then internationally to ship to America and Asian. The wine is poor, it's story is unique.

Every year, here we go again with the "Nouveau Beaujolais" shipment. @didou - You are right in terms of quality. Maybe it's just my tongue, but I've also felt very good Beaujolais, or if you want to add "Nouveau" to it, is very good. I'm more of a cab sav and bordeaux fan, but personally, I think this "Nouveau B" wine is just getting too commercialized.

No Thank You,

Local Sake and wines are much better and available at any time.

It's all about image here , just remember that.

I had it a few times, kind of tasted like watered down red wine.

Is it a year already since the same ridiculous charade was reported last time?

This is an 'Emperor's New Clothes' scenario. The only people impressed by this charade are similarly egotistical people. The majority of us feel it is a disgusting, immodest show of wealth and 'taste'.

There are a lot more interesting and impressive ways to spend your money. The sooner the media stop reporting this as news, the sooner we can move on from this relic.

I can not wait to taste the 2024 vintage. It's seams to be a good vintage but low production.

Beaujolais Nouveau is all about marketing since 70 years ago. They started to sell this cheap wine by creating events in France, then internationally to ship to America and Asian.

Of course, you are absolutely right, Forst, and a little research would show that. So, it is a little strange how some don't want to believe you.

Such a strange but typical Japanese gimmick! 

Sorry. It's not just Japan.

This "Beaujolais Day" is accompanied by publicity events and heavy advertising. The traditional slogan, even in English-speaking countries, was "Le Beaujolais nouveau est arrivé!"

In the United States, it is promoted as a drink for Thanksgiving

In the United Kingdom, Beaujolais Day is particularly popular in Swansea, Wales, where people book tables in restaurants and bars for the day up to a year in advance.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaujolais_nouveau

On a personal note, it's not a bad wine and tends to go with any foods I might get a bottle if the label catches my eye

The wine will sell for around 3,256 yen per 750-milliliter bottle, the same as last year.

Seems it's the only thing not going up in price. At over 3千円 it is quite pricey

乾杯

Local Sake and wines are much better and available at any time.

I must say that Japanese wine so far has not grown me. It also tends to be much more expensive that the import counterparts

Suntory plans to import about 457,000 bottles

And down here, they ship it in PLASTIC bottles, just like the cheap wine, whiskey, and awamori, all intended to be swilled!

Japan has historically been the number one importer of Beaujolais Nouveau wines but since 2022 sales have fallen.

Like so many other things here in Japan that get hyper-promoted as being the "hip" thing to buy, eat, drink, drive, or have.

Just because it gets so much air time, people are brainwashed into thinking it's "good" or even great, when in fact it's just a bunch of average!

Japan still makes up about 10% of French exports of the wine worldwide

Suntory plans to import about 457,000 bottles, or about 342,000 liters, a 17% increase from last year.

The record for Japan was 12.5 million bottles sold in 2004.

Is Suntory bringing all/most of it in, so sales are 95% down from the peak? Juxtaposing these two statements with numbers makes it sound like it.

Whatever it is, its nothing as big as the past. There are fewer young folks in Japan and many of em don't drink, let alone 3000 yen plus a bottle wine. I'm surprised Suntory's sales are going back up.

Japan used to import 50% of Beaujolais Nouveau exports. Many young people do not drink alcohol.

Many older prople are retreating from alcohol, maybe 'cos they have realised that it is all the marketing that makes it appear to be a social necessity... or they have developed a sense of taste. Folks that pride themselves the beaujolais etc concentrate on image... identity is always more important than image?

With its easy of drinkability and its seasonal status, Beaujolais Nouveau has been able to carve out a special place in the hearts of Japanese people across the country.

Japanese wine snobs love Beaujolais Nouveau cause it's from France. They exalt old world wine while diminishing new world wine. Which means they're used to overpaying for watery, tasteless wine cause it comes from France, Italy, and Spain. Beaujolais and Beaujolais have their place. They match well with light food like roast chicken or hamburgers and even hot dogs but you can find much better wine for a much better price. Good for me cause the wine snobs often ignore American, Australian, Chilean etc wine which I prefer.

This swill is undrinkable for anyone with a discerning palate.

pure Emperors New Clothes.

The only wine less palatable is that Bon Marche which isn’t even fit to put into a stew.

This swill is undrinkable for anyone with a discerning palate.

Lol let the haters do just that

As far as wine goes...

There is nothing wrong with BN

My French friend told me that Beaujolais Nouveau day was just an excuse for students in France to get drunk on cheap wine! I’m sure the taste appeals to some - it tends to be light and very sweet - similar to a few Japanese wines I’ve tried. I prefer something dryer and more robust that has seen some oak. For the price you can pick up a good Rioja Reserva that for me personally would be much, much better.

Burning BushToday  01:16 pm JST

This swill is undrinkable for anyone with a discerning palate.

Lol let the haters do just that

As far as wine goes...

There is nothing wrong with BN

You're paying over 3,000yen for something that should be under 1,000yen.

You're paying over 3,000yen for something that should be under 1,000yen.

Yes, it's expensive as most good things are.

I assume "you" is referring to people in general as who says I am paying ¥3,000 for it?

And you'll be hard pushed to get any decent wine of the same calibre as BN for under 1,000 yen in a Japanese store.

TAVERNELLO Organic Wine Organico Sangiovese 25.5 fl oz (750 ml) NV Red Wine Medium Body Italy.

Red and White. ¥1,121.

Better than BN.

https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/TAVERNELLO-Organic-Organico-Sangiovese-Medium/dp/B07GCMGGQ6?th=1

Burning BushToday  02:28 pm JST

You're paying over 3,000yen for something that should be under 1,000yen.

Yes, it's expensive as most good things are.

I assume "you" is referring to people in general as who says I am paying ¥3,000 for it?

And you'll be hard pushed to get any decent wine of the same calibre as BN for under 1,000 yen in a Japanese store.

BN is immature wine. It's fermented far shorter than other wines which means it costs the vintner less money to produce. It shouldn't be expensive as it's not really a good wine and it costs vineyards less money to produce. That's why many think it's a marketing scam. Unless you're paying 1,000 or under for it, you're overpaying.

I can find Robert Mondavi's Woodbridge and Casillero del Diablo for a 1,000. They have more body, bouquet, and finish than any BN.

They have more body, bouquet, and finish than any BN.

Stock, all year-rounds such as Woodbridge or Diablo; both wines you listed are widely available in Japan and have their place.

However, I generally avoid them simply because they are available all year round, especially when visiting Japanese friends homes because people should choose wine for the occasion, food and season.

BN matches most foods, it is released in fall and who can deny that it will certainly be appreciated at a Japanese get together.

All this talk about BN is making me think I might just throw caution to the wind and get me a bottle of it when I can.

Burning BushToday  04:05 pm JST

They have more body, bouquet, and finish than any BN.

Stock, all year-rounds such as Woodbridge or Diablo; both wines you listed are widely available in Japan and have their place.

However, I generally avoid them simply because they are available all year round, especially when visiting Japanese friends homes because people should choose wine for the occasion, food and season.

*BN matches most foods,** it is released in fall and who can deny that it will certainly be appreciated at a Japanese get together.*

All this talk about BN is making me think I might just throw caution to the wind and get me a bottle of it when I can.

BN is a very light wine so doesn't match well with heavy, strong tasting food as it gets overpowered making it taste even more austere. I think any wine will be appreciated at a Japanese get together. Doesn't have to be a vastly overpriced and overrated wine. But some will ooh and aah because they don't know any better and believe the hype.

BN is a very light wine so doesn't match well with heavy, strong tasting food as it gets overpowered making it taste even more austere. I think any wine will be appreciated at a Japanese get together. Doesn't have to be a vastly overpriced and overrated wine. But some will ooh and aah because they don't know any better and believe the hype.

We'll need to agree to disagree on this topic. Thanks for the discussion though.

Burning BushToday  04:28 pm JST

We'll need to agree to disagree on this topic. Thanks for the discussion though.

If you buy some, please enjoy!

Why is this still even news?

Wow! Are there still people in the world who think this is a great wine??? The marketing department should get a raise! I would never pay over 3000 yen for such a bad wine! For that price I can get a good Amarone or Barolo from Italy instead and be happy all the way to the last drop. Poor those who buy this and think it's a great wine. This is what you drink as a student when you don't know anything about wine and just want something cheap that give you a buzz.

I think Costco have some of the best deals on wine - a couple of years back they had a Rioja Gran Reserva for just over 2000 yen - it was a fantastic wine for the money. That was replaced with a Ribera del Duero - the 2016 vintage was also fantastic - not quite as good as the Rioja. Unfortunately you can only get the 2015 vintage now and it isn't a patch on the 2016. Their Gigondas is good and they have quite a big selection of Californian wines, but most of the ones I tried seem to be just fruit bombs, similar to many Australian wines, if you like that kind of thing.

3000 yen seems a lot for a wine that only takes 6 weeks to make from the press. There is a reason why winemakers go through the expensive processes of longer maceration, fermentation and then aging in various types of oak barrels etc. - they do it because it makes a better wine that they should then be able to sell for more money. For 3000 yen you can buy a wine that has taken a lot more time and expense to produce. Usually, things that cost more to produce cost more to buy, but not always. People spend a lot more money on a t-shirt because it say Balenciaga on the front, yet it cost the same to produce as any other t-shirt. I guess the BN thing works a similar way. I think the stuff tastes very similar to a lot of Japanese wines costing 1000-1500 yen a bottle.

I recall my younger brother Rodney buying this, nothing special, gave me a nice bottle of Blue Nun anytime.

I think Costco have some of the best deals on wine 

Costco is good and in the Tokyo area, OK supermarket does good wine at nice prices.

https://ok-netsuper.com/product/d3037de358fae