batch of Beaujolais Nouveau to land on the Island. It's considered a coup among wine lovers to get the first batch of the year to be bottled. That way they can pronounce judgement on how good this year's Beaujolais wines will be once they are aged properly. "Beaujolais Nouveau is a young wine that's not fully ripened, but it's bottled and shared out to the rest of the world,'' Mr.

Schmitz said.

Traditionally some restaurants even hire out helicopters to get the wine to the table faster. As agreed with their supplier, Mr. Schmitz couldn't open the win until yesterday. He served smoked herring and potato salad and a main course of marinated vinegar chicken at midnight Wednesday when he uncorked the youngster.