16 - Beaujolais Flashcards
what colour of wines are made in Beaujolais?
red, rosé & white
production in Beaujolais is dominated by …
red wines made from Gamay
style of Beaujolais
range
- from light & fruity & best consumed when young
- to those that can develop complexity with bottle age
Climate in Beaujolais
similar to the southern Mâconnais
Moderate Continental
Gamay
- early budding & ripening
- can produce large yields if not well managed
Grape growing in Beaujolais
- grape: Gamay
- best soil: granite soils with low level of nutrients
- trad. pruning method: gobelet
- pruning method increasingly used now: wires
Pruning method in Beaujolais
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
what is gobelet?
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
characteristics of wines from Gamay in Beaujolais
- fragrant
- aromas of raspberry & cherry fruit
- rarely have more than medium levels of tannin & body
- lightest styles can even be served lightly chilled
Hierarchy of appellations in Beaujolais
- Beaujolais (regional app.)
- Beaujolais Villages
- Beaujolais crus
the alluvial plain of the River Saône lies ..
to the east and south of the region Beaujolais
what is made on the alluvial plain of Beaujolais (app. hierarchy)
- Beaujolais
- Beaujolais Nouveau
production method used in Beaujolais
- mainly carbonic maceration & semi-carbonic maceration
what is Beaujolais Nouveau?
- 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)
characteristics of Beaujolais & Beaujolais Nouveau
- light in body & tannin
- red berry fruit
- often notes of kirsch, banana & cinnamon-like spice
(carbonic maceration)
geography of Beaujolais
- east & south : the alluvial plain of the River Saône
- north & west: rolling hills w granite soils
number of Villages in Beaujolais
39
individual village names on wine labels in Beaujolais?
Rarely.
Beaujolais Villages tend to be made from blending wines from different villages
number of crus in Beaujolais
10
the 4 crus with the greatest production in Beaujolais
- Brouilly
- Morgon
- Fleurie
- Moulin-à-Vent
the most structured wines of Beaujolais are produced in which 2 crus
- Moulin-à-Vent
- Morgon
2 crus in Beaujoalis that tend to produce lighter, more perfumed styles
- Brouilly
- Fleurie
characteristics of the 4 crus of Beaujolais mentioned in the book
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
production methods used in Beaujolais crus
- 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
