The Old Hack

It's a wonderful thing, the power of persuasion.  Yes, we have no bananas - well not in this bottle of wine, anyway.  Before you close the page, thinking the Old Hack has finally lost it, let me explain...

Yesterday being the second Thursday of November, the new season's Beaujolais was officially released amid much celebration which, of course, included the imbibing of the new wine.  It's been a very cold week here in the middle of France, and the idea of spending some time in our local bar sampling the fruit of the vine held much appeal for Mrs Old Hack and I.

We set off in our warmest coats to join in the fun.  A complimentary plate of various foodstuffs, including pate, saucisson sec, grapes and walnuts was placed before us as we opened our bottle of Beaujolais Nouveau.

All very well, I hear you say, but what has this to do with "Yes, we have no bananas?"  Bear with me, we will get there.

When we arrived at the bar - around seven thirty in the evening - we were virtually alone.  We made small talk with the bar owner, admired his skill at cracking walnuts with his hands (not having any nutcrackers available) and requested some Edith Piaf on the stereo.

About seven eighths of the way through our bottle, two young couples came into the bar and after an introductory chat challenged us to a game of darts (unusually popular in this part of France).

We replenished our glasses, discussed the fruitiness and   character of the wine and were ready to move the conversation on when mine host, who had just poured his first glass of the wine proclaimed loudly "Banane!" (Banana!) He explained that each year's new vintage has the aroma of a different fruit, and this year it was banana.  We opened a fresh bottle, swilled it round our mouths very carefully, sniffed the glass.  "Yes!" pronounced a customer. "He's right.  It's banana!"

An excited flurry of activity ensued as one after another, customers agreed that the surprise of the 2007 Beaujolais was its unusual banana nose, and each new imbiber was invited to taste and smell the banana.

I turned on the news on the television this-morning over breakfast.  The president of the Beajolais growers society pronounced that this year's wine was one of the best he had known for many years.  "The raspberry bouquet is especially prominent", he added.  Yes.  We have no bananas!