This week, many Americans will be stuffing turkeys. Of course some of those turkeys prefer to be called “relatives” or “college friends.” Either way, the broad assortment of foods and guests on Thursday will make for  an interesting day.

Yet, every now and then, conversation may lag. Should that happen, here are a couple of things you can do.

1. Ask guests if the legality of carbonic maceration should be determined at the state or federal level.
2. Ask them if over-crowded prisons promote intracellular fermentation.

If things get contentious, pour everyone a big glass of Beaujolais. It’s pretty hard to be surly when you’re drinking a happy, fruity wine.

I tried some good Georges DuBoeuf Beaujolais this week, any of them would be fine choices for holiday meals this week and/or in December. And this is also a good example of “scores” not translating directly to enjoyment.

Few Beaujolais wines will ever get really high scores. They aren’t dark in color. They aren’t full-bodied. They won’t age for a decade. But they can be delicious in the near term. So think of these scores not relative to blockbuster Cabernets, but relative to other Beaujolais. Or forget scores entirely and just enjoy drinking the stuff.

2016 Georges DuBoeuf Beaujolais Nouveau 86 12.0% 750ml $12

Exactly what you’re looking for from Beaujolais Nouveau. The nose is festive with raspberry, strawberry jam, bubblegum and banana aromas. The fruit is a bit darker and more serious in the mouth—and there’s a chiffonade of sweet herb too—but the wine is light in body and alcohol.

Pour it a little colder than usual for a red wine. That emphasizes the freshness. It will be a good pairing for roast chicken or turkey, hot or cold ham, and semi-savory passed hors d’oeuvres. Drink it over the next few months.

2015 Georges DuBoeuf “Flower Label” Beaujolais-Villages 86 13.5% 750ml $13

Less buoyant than the Georges DuBoeuf Beaujolais Nouveau, yet appetizing nonetheless with aromas of red cherry, sweet herb, dark spice and grape soda. Dark red cherry flavors predominate on the medium+ bodied palate. There’s touch of fine-grained, chalky texture too. Drink this year.

2015 Georges DuBoeuf “La Madone” Fleurie, Beaujolais 87 13.0% 750ml $20

The nose and palate are about jammy blackberry, sweet spice and unsweetened cocoa. Body, freshness and intensity are all on the generous side of medium. It will still be good with chicken, turkey and ham, but will also be nice with cold slices of rare roast beef.

Because there’s also a little more texture than usual for Fleury, this wine, while extremely drinkable now, can age for a couple of years.

 2015 Georges DuBoeuf “Jean-Ernest Descombes” Morgon Beaujolais 88 13.0% 750ml $22

The fruity but nuanced nose includes purple plum, cherry, red apple and sweet spice. Flavors are cherry and plum with a dusting of espresso powder. Body is medium+ body with notable texture of fine-grained chalk that is fairly well balanced with freshness.

This is a versatile food wine and also one worth aging for a few years. Best now-2020.

Copyright Fred Swan 2016. Photo courtesy of Georges DuBoeuf. All rights reserved.