Beaujolais Flashcards
What Beaujolais Cru’s are the longest aging?
Morgon
Moulin-à-Vent
Chénas
What Beaujolais Cru is the smallest?
Chénas
What Beaujolais Cru is named after Julius Cesar?
Juliénas
What Beaujolais Cru is the northernmost?
Saint Amour
What Beaujolais Cru is the highest?
Chiroubles
What Beaujolais Cru is the newest?
Régnié
What Beaujolais Cru is the largest?
Brouilly
What Beaujolais Cru has slopes facing all directions?
Côte de Brouilly
What are the 11 AOC’s of Beaujolais?
The regional AOC is Beaujolais AOC The Cru AOC's from North to South are: 1. Saint Amour 2. Juliénas 3. Chénas 4. Moulin-à-Vent 5. Fleurie 6. Chiroubles 7. Morgon 8. Régnié 9. Côte de Brouilly 10 Brouilly (note: Brouilly surrounds Côte de Brouilly)
How many AOC’s in Beaujolais?
11
2/3 of all Beaujolais Nouveau production is classified as what AOC?
Beaujolais
1/3 is classified as Beaujolais Villages
How much of the total Beaujolais production is Nouveau?
1/3
When is the release of Nouveau?
The 3rd Thursday in November
Why is vatting time important in Beaujolais?
Longer vatting time gives:
- Deeper, richer pigented wine
- Increases the structure (tannins) & aromatics of the wine
What are the vatting times in Beaujolais for: Nouveau: Beaujolais: Beaujolais Villages: Cru level:
Nouveau: 2-3 days
Beaujolais: 4-6 days
Beaujolais Villages: 5-9 days
Cru level: 8-15 days
What flavors does Carbonic Maceration add to the wine:
Banana, cherry candy, raspberry and cranberry
What is the training method in the North & South Beaujolais areas?
North: mainly Gobelet also Cordon & Eventail
South: Guyot
What is the topography of the North and South Beaujolais areas?
North: Mountains
South: Gentle slopes & rolling plains
What are the soils of the North and South Beaujolais areas?
North: Granite, schist, arène, gorrhe
South: Clay/limestone, Pierres Dorées & river alluviums
What 3 things differentiate North and South Beaujolais areas?
Soils
Topography
Training Methods
What are the 2 rivers of Beaujolais?
The Saone & Nizerand rivers
The Nizerand separates North & South Beaujolais
What are the characteristics of the Beaujolais Cru Moulin-à-Vent?
It is named after a local historical windmill
Most full-bodied and tannic of all CRUs
Soil: Arène, decomposed pink granite rich in manganese
Has a tendency to become “Pinot-Like” locally called Pinoter
Can last a decade
What are the characteristics of the Beaujolais Cru Morgon?
2nd largest Cru
Named after a local town
Soils: Roches Pourries (rotted rocks), decomposed schist rich in iron and manganese
Flavors of ripe cherry, cherry jam & kirsch
“Morgonner”/”Morgonne” = to pick up notes of forest floor (Sous Bois)
Ageability: 5-10 years
What are the characteristics of the Beaujolais Cru Chénas
Smallest Cru
Located on an ancient oak forest Chénas means oak tree
Soil: Granite at elevation; clay & stone lower on slopes
Described as “a bouquet of flowers”
What are the 3 full bodied Crus in Beaujolais that have structure and staying power?
- Chénas
- Moulin-à-Vent
- Morgon
What are the characteristics of the Beaujolais Cru Brouilly?
Takes its name from Mont Brouilly
Southernmost of all Crus
Largest of all Crus (represents 20% of all Cru Area)
Soil is decomposed diurite (green horns) blue black in color
What are the characteristics of Côte de Brouilly?
Located on the slopes of Mont Brouilly
Only Cru with vineyards facing all directions
Soil: decomposed diorite with some pink granite on the western slope
What are the characteristics of the Beaujolais Cru Juliénas?
Named after Julius Cesar
Soils: granite veined with magnesium and porphyry (alluvial clay)
Vineyards are south facing
What are the characteristics of the Beaujolais Cru Régnié?
It is the newest Beaujolais Cru
Soil: Pink granite, decomposed schist & arène (weathered feldspar)
Vineyards face east
What are the Characteristics of the Beaujolais Cru Saint Amour?
Northernmost Cru
Soils: Granite and clay
What are the characteristics of the Beaujolais Cru Fleurie?
Named after a Roman Legionnaire
2 Distinct soil types: Pink Granite & Clay
Wines are elegant and aromatic
Considered most floral/feminine of all the Crus
What are the characteristics of the Beaujolais Cru Chiroubles?
Highest in elevation & coolest It is the last to harvest Soil is granite and gorrhe Vineyards face southeast This Cru is considered benchmark Beaujolais
What are the 3 light bodied Crus of Beaujolais?
Chiroubles
Fleurie
Saint Amour
What are the specifications on the Beaujolais Crus?
100% red & 100% Gamay Soils: Granite, schist & mineral sands Yields: Lowest in Beaujolais, Planting density is high Vines are short pruned & hand harvested Vatting time 8-15 days
From north to south what are the 10 Crus of Beaujolais?
- Saint Amour
- Juliénas
- Chénas
- Moulin-à-Vent
- Fleurie
- Chiroubles
- Morgon
- Régnié
- Côte de Brouilly
10 Brouilly (note: Brouilly surrounds Côte de Brouilly)
What are the steps in Carbonic Maceration?
- Whole clusters and berries are put into the tank without pressing
- The weight causes bottom grapes to burst, creating an anaerobic environment inside the berries
- The length of time allows more and more grapes to burst increasing alcohol, pigment and tannins