16 - Beaujolais

Question 1

what colour of wines are made in Beaujolais?

Answer 1

red, rosé & white

Question 2

production in Beaujolais is dominated by …

Answer 2

red wines made from Gamay

Question 3

style of Beaujolais

Answer 3

range
- from light & fruity & best consumed when young
- to those that can develop complexity with bottle age

Question 4

Climate in Beaujolais

Answer 4

similar to the southern Mâconnais
Moderate Continental

Question 5

Gamay

Answer 5

• early budding & ripening
• can produce large yields if not well managed

Question 6

Grape growing in Beaujolais

Answer 6

• grape: Gamay
• best soil: granite soils with low level of nutrients
• trad. pruning method: gobelet
• pruning method increasingly used now: wires

Question 7

Pruning method in Beaujolais

Answer 7

traditional:
gobelet: the vines are pruned to spurs around the head, and then the shoots are tied together, to hold them vertically

now:
an increasing number of growers are training their vines along wires to allow for mechanisation

Question 8

what is gobelet?

Answer 8

pruning method used ie in Beaujolais.
The vines are pruned to spurs around the head, and then the shoots are tied together, to hold them vertically

Question 9

characteristics of wines from Gamay in Beaujolais

Answer 9

• fragrant
• aromas of raspberry & cherry fruit
• rarely have more than medium levels of tannin & body
• lightest styles can even be served lightly chilled

Question 10

Hierarchy of appellations in Beaujolais

Answer 10

1. Beaujolais (regional app.)
2. Beaujolais Villages
3. Beaujolais crus

Question 11

the alluvial plain of the River Saône lies ..

Answer 11

to the east and south of the region Beaujolais

Question 12

what is made on the alluvial plain of Beaujolais (app. hierarchy)

Answer 12

• Beaujolais
• Beaujolais Nouveau

Question 13

production method used in Beaujolais

Answer 13

• mainly carbonic maceration & semi-carbonic maceration

Question 14

what is Beaujolais Nouveau?

Answer 14

• made for early drinking
• cannot be released to the consumer until the third Thursday in November after the vintage, and cannot be sold by growers or négociants after the following 31 August
• can only be of Beaujolais or Beaujolais Villages quality
  (the ten crus cannot be sold in this way)

Question 15

characteristics of Beaujolais & Beaujolais Nouveau

Answer 15

• light in body & tannin
• red berry fruit
• often notes of kirsch, banana & cinnamon-like spice
  (carbonic maceration)

Question 16

geography of Beaujolais

Answer 16

• east & south : the alluvial plain of the River Saône
• north & west: rolling hills w granite soils

Question 17

number of Villages in Beaujolais

Answer 17

39

Question 18

individual village names on wine labels in Beaujolais?

Answer 18

Rarely.
Beaujolais Villages tend to be made from blending wines from different villages

Question 19

number of crus in Beaujolais

Answer 19

10

Question 20

the 4 crus with the greatest production in Beaujolais

Answer 20

1. Brouilly
2. Morgon
3. Fleurie
4. Moulin-à-Vent

Question 21

the most structured wines of Beaujolais are produced in which 2 crus

Answer 21

1. Moulin-à-Vent
2. Morgon

Question 22

2 crus in Beaujoalis that tend to produce lighter, more perfumed styles

Answer 22

1. Brouilly
2. Fleurie

Question 23

characteristics of the 4 crus of Beaujolais mentioned in the book

Answer 23

Moulin-à-Vent & Morgon: most structured wines. The fruit concentration & level of tannins mean that these wines can improve with bottle-ageing.

Brouilly & Fleurie: lighter, more perfumed styles

Question 24

production methods used in Beaujolais crus

Answer 24

• many undergo a crushed-fruit fermentation
• some will receive oak ageing, often in large vats rather than casks
• rarely display pronounced aromas or flavours of new oak
• other producers use semi-carbonic maceration or a small proportion of whole bunches to give brighter fruit aromas