Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/164544
PHOTO COURTESY OF DEUTSCH FAMILY WINE & SPIRITS Fathers and sons (left to right): William Deutsch, Chairman of Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits; Beaujolais legend Georges Duboeuf and his son Franck Duboeuf; Peter Deutsch, CEO of Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits. wine brand under $20 according to Robert Parker's Wine Advocate. Without the Duboeuf family, the delicious crus including Morgon, Fleurie, Juliénas, Brouilly, Moulin-à-Vent wouldn't be known around the world as exquisite wines at a very good price. Georges' son Franck, a soft-spoken man who takes after his father but with an elegant style all his own, remembers growing up in the 1960s when the success of Beaujolais was evident from his family's own backyard. But what will today's generation recall about Gamay? Franck, who tastes between 75 to 100 different wines a day for quality control with his father, has high hopes: "I think we will have a different perception of the Gamay grape in the near future," he says. He's not alone in that thinking. As the long-time importer of Duboeuf wines and a big proponent of the grape, Deutsch was a natural partner for this project. "I've seen a lot during my 30 years in the business, and this venture is one of the more exciting ones for us," said Bill Deutsch, Chairman of Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits. "We truly believe in the potential of the Gamay grape and that its quality for the price can lead to the revitalization of French wine in the U.S. We are excited to partner with the Duboeuf family and Seasons 52 to bring Jolie Saison to the U.S." Franck Duboeuf is co-owner of Les Vins Georges Duboeuf and is involved in all projects in North America, one of their leading markets. Franck and father Georges are partners on the project, and Franck waxes poetic about the name, describing it as "a kind of music, easy to pronounce and evoking the pleasant days during véraison, or when the last fruit of the season is brought in for harvest—you remember all these pleasant days, embodied in a glass of wine." The Resonance of the Grape Seasons 52 is a grill and wine bar with an extensive wine program that encourages exploring and discovering new wines. Miliotes understood that the grape is what resonates with consumers, and that a simple, subtle shift in the way Beaujolais wine is presented in his restaurant could potentially ignite a small tsunami of excitement. Miliotes isn't worried about hand-selling anything, however; since he can't be in all 32 of the restaurants' locations, he knew that a new approach was necessary. "Talking about the wine as 'Gamay' was the revelation. American drinkers tend to think in terms of varietals first and foremost, but when it comes to the grape, Gamay's taste profile is just perfect for the American consumer—and of course it's easy to pronounce." september 2013 / the tasting panel / 99 TP0913_063-103.indd 99 8/23/13 10:20 AM