Beaujolais Flashcards
What type of soil is preferred by Gamay?
Granite
What is the northernmost Beaujolais Cru?
Saint Amour
What grape varity(ies) is/are used to produce Red Beaujolais AOC?
Beaujolais AOC wines must contain at least 85% Gamay. The balance can be Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Aligoté and Melon. (In practice, this is rare, however.)
What grape is used for the white wines of Beaujolais?
Chardonnay
What river flows to the east of Beaujolais?
The Saône River
What Beaujolais Cru has the highest elevation and coolest climate?
Chiroubles
What grape variety(ies) is/are used to produce White Beaujolais AOC?
All white Beajolais is made from 100% Chardonnay
What is the southern-most Beaujolais Cru?
Brouilly
What grape is responsible for 98% of the wines in Beaujolais?
Gamay
What river divides northern Beaujolais from the south?
The Nizerand
What is the climate of Beaujolais?
Semi-continental with Mediterranean influences
What Beaujolais Cru is considered the most fruity, delicate and floral?
Fleurie
What Beaujolais Cru is the newest?
Régnié AOC (1988)
What Beaujolais Crus is considered to be “the king of Beaujolais”?
Moulin à Vent
What three Beaujolais Crus are regarded as having the greatest aging potential?
Moulin à Vent, Morgan, Chénas
What Beaujolais Cru is famous for its soils of “roches pourries” (decomposed schist)?
Morgon AOC
What Beaujolais cru is the largest in size?
Brouilly
What is “arrène” (or “gorrhe”)?
A sandy, mineral-rich soil found in northern Beaujolais
What method is generally used to make sparking sweet rosé wine in Beaujolais?
Méthode ancestrale
Which Burgundian appellations can include grapes grown in Beaujolais?
Côteaux Bourguignons, Bourgogne Rouge, Rosé and Blanc, Bourgogne Pinot Noir, Aligoté and Gamay
When is Beaujolais Nouveau Day?
The third Thursday of November
What Beaujolais Crus is generally considered the most age-worthy, full-bodied and tannic?
Moulin-à-Vent
What is the smallest Beaujolais Cru?
Chénas (mnemonic: “Chénas” has the fewest letters in its name)
What soil type generally produces more structured, complex wines in Beaujolais?
Granite and schist
Is Beaujolais Nouveau a style of wine or an AOC?
It is a style of wine that can be made under the Beaujolais or Beaujolais Village AOCs
“Pinoter” is a verb used in Beaujolais to describe:
The tendency for Moulin-à-Vent to become Pinot Noir-like as it ages
What Beaujolais Cru is considered to be benchmark Beaujolais?
Chiroubles
What Beaujolais Crus is known for cornes verts (blue-green soils)?
Brouilly
Beaujolais- Background
- Prior to the French Revolution, the province of Bourgogne included Beaujolais
- After the revolution, France was divided into “regions” and “departments” (Provinces were eliminated). There is a Bourgogne regions which includes the departments of Yonne, Côte d’Or, Nievre and Saône et Loire (Nievre actually contains the wine regions of the upper Loire)
- Yonne Department includes v/yards of Chablis and Grand Auxerrois. The Côte D’Or lies within a department of the same name. Cote Challonaise and the Macconais belong to the Saône et Loire Department. And Beaujolais is divided b/ween the department of Saône et Loire and Rhone (The Rhone department itself is part of the Rhone- Alps
- Wine regions boundaries do not correspond to the admin district within France
- Beaujolais lie in two seperate Departments and each of these lie within different admin Regions
- Bourgogne organisation= Bureau Interprofessional des Vins De Bourgogne
- Beaujolais= Inter- Beaujolais
- There are 6 Communes In Beaujolais that can provide fruit for inclusion in Bourgogne Aligote, 42 Communes that can provide Chardonnay to Bourgogne Blanc and 19 Communes (including 10 Crus) which can provide fruit for Bourgogne Gamay
- Gamay from these approved Beaujolais areas may also be incorporated into Bourgogne Rouge And Rose
- These loopholes being cleared up, Bourgogne Aligote will no longer accept fruit from Beaujolais as of 2035. This means existing plots of Aligote are being phased out.
Ancient Past to the Middle Ages- Beaujolais
- 1st cultivated by the Romans in Middle Ages- planted vines from the mouth of the Rhone through to the Saône River Valley
- Mont Brouilly named after Brulius, Roman lieutenant who oversaw the region, Julienas one of 10 Beaujolais Cru was named after Julius Caesar, whose troops were all over
- 7th Century through to Middle Ages, Benedictine monks made responsible for v/yards
- 10th Century; Ruled by Dukes of Beaujeu, town In are takes it’s name
- 1395: Phillippe the Bold, outlawed cultivation of Gamay
Turn of the 20th Century to the Modern Era- Beaujolais
- Railway expansion of the 19th Century. Beaujolais expanded its distribution Paris became a top market
- 1936 to 1938: 8 out of 10 Beaujolais Crus established (St Amour 1946, Régine 1988)
- 1950s: Lyonnais became obsessed with drinking Beaujolais en premier
- Gamay is particularly suited to this kind of consumption, which inherent soft fruitness , low tannin Level
- 1951: Union Interprofessional des Vins Du Beaujolais (UIVB) set the date at November 15th
- 1985; INAO officially called it the 3rd Thursday of every November “Beaujolais Noveau” day- 1201 am boxes can be opened
- 1970- 1990: Nouveau became popular and soon accounted for 1/3 of total Beaujolais production. 1995- 2000, Nouveau phenom creates huge visibility for Beaujolais, but also over took terroir- driven bottlings
- The number of Terroir drive. Estate bottled Wines made from single v/yards or crafted from within 1 of the Beaujolais Cru AOCs on the rise and Inter- Beaujolais works diligently to give the Wines more recog.
Location- Beaujolais
- Small Region 38,062 acres/ 15, 403 ha
- 34 miles/ 54 kms long from Nth to Sth, 7 to 9 miles/ 11-14 kms wide
- Bordered by Macon (Bourgogne) to the Nth, city of Lyon to the Sth, The Monts Du Beaujolais Mtns to the Wst, Saône River to the east
- Saône River is sourced in the Voges Mtns in Lorraine runs Sth for 300 miles/ 480 kms into Lyon where it is joined by the Rhone on its journey to the Mediterranean
- Like Alsace, The v/yards are strategically placed between a mountain range that serves to black clouds and rain the temp mOderating effects of a large river
- Region is divided into Nth and Sth by Nizerand River, Near Villefrande-Sur- Saône. River is also a marker of the different soil types of the region, Marl and limestone of Sthrn Beaujolais, whilst most of the Beaujolais Villages and Cru are produced in the Granitic and Schist Soils Of Nth Beaujolais
Climate: Continental with Mediterranean Influences- Beaujolais
- Semi Continental Climate- Region experiences all 4 seasons. But due to the proximity of The Mediterranean Sea, Summers are bottle warm and dry
- Summers; Bring Mediterranean warmth which allows for greater ripening
- Springs; Cool and Wet fréquent frost hazards, but the Monts du Beaujolais protect the v/yards from Cold winds and help to provide an environment for safe budding and flowering
- Warm Autumns; Common, some rain. Gamay can suffer from Grey rot, so vignerons employ management practices to open the canopy and maximise sun exposure. This stops humidity build up and facilitiates drying
- Cold Winters; Light snow, frost, hail. Achieve full dormancy, like sleep for humans, this is key to health, productivity and longevity of the wine.
Geology and Soils- Northern Beaujolais
Granite created 300 millions years ago, it was pushed to the surface due to the Massif Central. The heat and pressure cause Schist to appear as well. Interspersed with this are sandy soils composed of field spurs, micas, quartz and other minerals called arene an gorthe
Geology and Soils- Southern Beaujolais
Composed of clayey limestone formed at the same time and in the same fashion as the Soils Of The Macconais to the North. It contains old soil, but not as the granite and schist of the North. Broken yellow limestone (Pierres Dorees) are also found. Whereas Nth is igneous (granite) and metamorphic (Schist) all of the Sth soils are sedimentary in nature. This is significant because Gamay demonstrates different characters on different soils. Granite and Schist= structured, complex Wines, Limestone, Clay= lighter, fruitier, easy drinking wines
Typography; Mountain Peaks- Beaujolais
- Best v/yards on the steep granite outcropping of the Monts De Beaujolais (nthwst Of The Region)- where Crus of Beaujolais are grown SthWSt nature of these slopes maximise sunlight exposure. Beaujolais Crus (Nth) are usually harvested before Sth.
- V/yard slopes are b/ween 650 and 1300 ft/ 195- 300 m above sea level
- Highest peak Mont Saint Rigaud (3300 ft/ 990 m). But a string of peaks are b/ ween 2000 and 3000 ft/ 600- 900 m
Typography: Gentle Slopes- Beaujolais
Sth and Est from the Granite peaks are the gentle slopes of the Beaujolais and Beaujolais Villages producing areas
Typography: Rolling Plains- Beaujolais
Further Sth from this is a rolling plain where the bulk of general Beaujolais AOC is located. V/yards stop before they reach the Saône River. Land is too gentle for the vine, devoted to farm land and housing
Typography: Alpine backdrop- Beaujolais
To the Est are the PreAlps and Alpine Mountain Ranges. On clear days, Mont Blanc can be seen. When harvest is complete in Beaujolais valley, the peaks of the Massif to the Wst and Alps to the far Est will have seen their first snow.
Red Grapes- Beaujolais
98% is Gamay
- Gamay Noir a Jus Blanc
- Pinot Noir
White Grapes- Beaujolais
- Of 38,062 acres/ 15,403 ha of Beaujolais, only 571 acres/ 231 ha are dedicated to white wine
- Chardonnay
- Aligote
- Melon De Bourgogne
- Pinot Gris
Optional Field Blend- Beaujolais
- Red Beaujolais, Beaujolais Supieur and Beaujolais Villages, w/makers can supplement Gamay with Pinot Noir, Gris, Chardonnay, Aligote and Melon, but only if these grapes are co- planted and Entre the vat as a field blend.
- These secondary grapes can only be less than 15% of the total
- All White wine made from Chardonnay, Crus are 100% Gamay
Viticultural Practices- Beaujolais
- Gobelet training mandatory in Red Beaujolais Village category and Beaujolais Cru AOCs, Cordon (simple or double) and éventail are now authorised
- Gobelet limits yields, this concentrates flavour in the clusters, providing high- quality grapes, full- flavoured wines with aging potential
- Corton and Éventail methods are also efficient at spacing out the shoots and canes within the canopy while providing yield control through pruning
- Long training methods such as Guyot are only permitted for red/ white Beaujolais and White Beaujolais Villages
- Guyot trains the vine higher off the ground and puts fruit zone at a height that facilitiates hand harvesting. Generates higher yield than the Gobelet pruning Method
Red and Rose Wines- Beaujolais
- Beaujolais, Gamay Fermented via Semi- carbonic Maceration
- Wines are racked off of their lees and aged in oak casks, concrete or s/less steel tanks. After aging, they may undergo filtration
- Nouveau released only without aging:
- Dry Red: All areas within the Beaujolais region produce, dry red wine from Gamay
- Dry Rose: Made from Gamay. Rare, Production is on the rise. In fact, making a market presence in France, Japan and Britian
- Sparkling Sweet Rose: Grown in popularity in the last few years. Usually Methode Ancestrale. Not AOC sanctioned in Beaujolais
White Wine Styles- Beaujolais
- Demand is increasing. Made using traditional white Winemaking practices. Go through MLF. Small amount of producers ferment and age in oak cask ps creating rounder, toasted Beaujolais Blanc with butter, nut, spiced apple flavours.
- Dry Whites: Beaujolais Blanc Or Beaujolais- Villages Blanc. Currently white production, specifically Chardonnay is on the rise
- Sparkling Wines; Chardonnay, Gamay, Pinot Noir used for Cremant De Bourgogne
Beaujolais Appellations
- 96 Villages, 11 AOCs among them
- Beaujolais streamlined in 2011 by putting Beaujolais, Beaujolais Supérieur, Beaujolais- Villages and Beaujolais and named Commune under one AOC
- These Wines are now categories within the general Beaujolais AOC
What year was Beaujolais AOC established?
1937
Beaujolais and Beaujolais Superieur
- 12, 889 acres/ 5,216 ha of v/yards dedicated to Beaujolais production. Zone of production split into two;
- Southern Beaujolais; Area south of Nizerand River
- Nth Beaujolais; Band Of contiguous v/yards running north from Villefranche-Sur-Saône to the villages of St Amour
- 98% Production is red
- By law, red and Rose Beaujolais can include up to 15% of P/Noir, Chardonnay, Aligote, P/Gris, Melon. In reality most wines 100% Gamay. Wines must achieve a minimum alcohol level of 10%
- Red Beaujolais= fresh overt grapiness, light pigmented, light tannins, bright acid, aromas of Banana, Cranberry, Raspberry, Cherry
- White= Chardonnay. Minimum alcohol, 10.5%. Most unoaked, fresh and vibrant, bright apple acidity
- Red and Rose Beaujolais can be superieur meaning slightly higher alc (+0.5%) and more concentration due to lower yields (3.7 tons/ acre, 6.2 hl/ ha). No white supérieur can be produced.
- Just like Macon, producers can add, the name of the actual village/ Commune to the gen AOC. Beaujolais has 30 villages granted this licence. Minimum alcohol for Wines so labelled is 10.5% for the reds and roses, 11% for the whites.
Beaujolais Villages
- Best performing areas of the AOC
- Much like the Rhone Vialkges is added to highlight this- 38 Villages (Pioneered here in the 50s)
- Guyot training System is not allowed at this level. Wines (Red) must achieve a minimum alcohol of 10.5%
- Beaujolais Villages= more density in pigment, less overt graphics deeper berry fruit. It’s more tannic and possess a solid core of minerality. This is due to the presence of granite in Beaujolais Village is 100% Chardonnay. Guyot allowed. Wines must get to 11%. Slightly more concentrated in flavour than regional Beaujolais, deeper richer more supple on the palate, mirrors white Macon in style.
- Hard harvesting is the norm for Beaujolais, machine harvesting is allowed by permission
Nouveau Releases; Beaujolais and Beaujolais Villages
- Released in 110 countries, these festive wines are not entitled to their own AOC though. Either classified as Beaujolais or Beaujolais Villages
- Though in its infancy, Nouveau Rose is popular in France, Japan and Britain
- All 96 Villages are allowed to produce Nouveau wines. As Nouveau is not its own AOC, production is split between Beaujolais (producing 2/3 of the total) and Beaujolais Village accounts for the balance
- 50 million cases, 4.2 million cases. 1/2 of the Beaujolais region total production
- Wines are labelled either ‘Nouveau’ or ‘Premieur’. Follows same blending formulas yield, minimum alcohols for the AOC category under which it is bottled (ie Beaujolais or Beaujolais Villages). It can be either Red or Rose
- Released on the 3rd Thursday of November following harvest
- Hand harvesting and semi- carbonic Maceration are required
- Aromatic evolves fresh fruit (pressed grape juice, raspberry, strawberries, cranberries) candied fruit, banana, bubble gum. Can have a slight chill, due to bright acid, light tannins
The Beaujolais AOC Cru
- Much more structured
- Well crafted wines showing specific terroir
- Better aging due to longer skin contact during fermentation. Most complex in whole Beaujolais region
Beaujolais Cru- Overview
- Red and 100% Gamay
- 14,802 acres/ 5,990 ha total v/yard area
- All wines must be short- pruned and trained in Gobelet, Eventail p, Cordon Simple, Cordon Double fashion
- Yields are lowest in Beaujolais (3.37 tons/acre, 56 hl/ha)
- Crus harvested by hand, some producers hand sort to ensure unblemished fruit goes into fermentation tank
- Minimum alcohol 10%, named climats within the Crus must contain 9 minimum of 10.5% alcohol
- “Cru De Beaujolais” maybe written on the label
Nth to Sth: St Amour, Julienas, Chenas, Moulin-a-Vent, Fleurie, Chirobles, Morgon, Régnie (Brouilly), Cote De Brouilly and Brouilly
**Cote De Brouilly lies within and completely encircled by Brouilly, Brouilly both proceeds and follows this cru in a Nth- Sth line up
Saint- Amour AOC
- Nth most cru; borders Macconais
- Production n St Amour (village that dates to Roman Times)
- “St Love”- promoted around Valentine’s Day
- 1946 AOC, 75 acres/ 304 ha of vines. Soil; Granite and Clay. East/ Sthest
- 12 Climat, must achieve 10.5% (vs 10%)
- Wines of Short and Long Maceration. Wines with shorter Maceration times are light, fruity, perfumed. Aromas of grape, peach, violet. Long Maceration more tannic, hints of kirsch, cake spices. Richer mouthfeel intended to age in bottle at least 2 yrs, but can keep for 5 yrs (or longer)- P/Noir like with age
