Beaujolais Flashcards
1
Q
Where is Beaujolais?
A
- Immediately south of the Maconnais, to north of Lyon in Eastern France.
2
Q
Describe Beaujolais Nouveau?
A
- Category of wine within the AOC regulations
- Can be labelled Beaujolais [-Villages] Nouveau depending on origin of fruit
- Exception in wine law to allow release third Thursday in November
- Carbonic or semi-carbonic maceration
- MLF may or may not take place (if not, fining/filtering/moderate to high SO2 required)
3
Q
What is the influence of Climate on the wines of Beaujolais
A
- Continental climate, sliughtly warmer than the rest of Burgundy
- Adequate rainfall (740mm)
4
Q
What is the influence of Saone River on the wines of Beaujolais
A
- Moderates extreme temperatures
5
Q
What is the influence of Cold Mistral Winds on the wines of Beaujolais
A
- Detrimental to flowering
- Can damage leaves and grapes towards end of ripening
6
Q
What is the influence of soils in the Northern area on the wines of Beaujolais
A
- Fast draining granite, schist and sandy soils
7
Q
What is the influence of semi-carbonic maceration on the wines of Beaujolais
A
- Majority of Beaujolais is made by semi-carbonic maceration
- Kirsch, banana and blueberry aromas
8
Q
What is the influence of chapitalisation on the wines of Beaujolais
A
- common in cooler years
9
Q
What is the influence of maceration on the wines of Beaujolais
A
- typically 4-5 days for Beaujolais and Beaujolais-Villages
- Very good quality Villages may be 6-9 days
- Cru wines may be 10-20 days, or detstemmed, crushed and macerated
- The aim is to enhcance fruitiness and depth of colour
- Longer maceration gives move concentration
10
Q
What is the influence of aging on the wines of Beaujolais
A
- Typically brief, in stainless steel (cru wines in oak though)
- Reduces production costs
11
Q
What is the influence of average holding size on the wines of Beaujolais
A
- 10 ha
- Many growers sell to cooperatives
12
Q
What are the growing-environment factors that influence the wines of Beaujolais?
A
- Climate
- Saone River
- Cold Mistral Winds
- soils in the Northern area
13
Q
What are the wine-making factors that influence the wines of Beaujolais?
A
- semi-carbonic maceration
- chapitalisation
- maceration
- aging
14
Q
What are the wine-business factors that influence the wines of Beaujolais?
A
- average holding size
15
Q
Describe Climate in Beaujolais
A
- Continental climate, sliughtly warmer than the rest of Burgundy
- Adequate rainfall (740mm)
16
Q
Describe soils in the Northern area in Beaujolais
A
- Fast draining granite, schist and sandy soils
17
Q
Describe semi-carbonic maceration in Beaujolais
A
- Majority of Beaujolais is made by semi-carbonic maceration
18
Q
Describe chapitalisation in Beaujolais
A
- common in cooler years
19
Q
Describe maceration in Beaujolais
A
- typically 4-5 days for Beaujolais and Beaujolais-Villages
- Very good quality Villages may be 6-9 days
- Cru wines may be 10-20 days, or detstemmed, crushed and macerated
- The aim is to enhcance fruitiness and depth of colour
20
Q
Describe aging in Beaujolais
A
- Typically brief, in stainless steel (cru wines in oak though)
21
Q
Describe average holding size in Beaujolais
A
- 10 ha
22
Q
Describe the wines of Beaujolais
A
- Large quantity of wine (same as rest of Burgundy) from Gamay
- Tiny amounts of rosé from Gamay and whites from Chardonnay
23
Q
Describe Gamay in Beaujolais
A
- Gamay expresses differences depending on soil and site, giving varying tannin and fruitiness
- Differences mainly relate to ripeness of grapes, including skins, and seeds
- Grapes grown on slops with good drainage, sunlight interception and warm granite soils are more fruity than the leafy character of less ripe examples
- Productive and yields need to be controlled to ensure quality.
- Mostly picked by hand as whole bunches required for semi-carbonic maceration
24
Q
Describe Chardonnay in Beaujolais
A
- Grown in the north bordering Mâcon Villages
25
What are the characteristics of **Gamay** in **Beaujolais**?
* early budding
* susceptible to milerandage
* early ripening
* thin skins
26
Why are the advantages of **Gamay** being **early ripening** in **Beaujolais**
* Usually picked before Autumn rains
27
Why are the disadvantages of **Gamay** being **early budding** in **Beaujolais**
* Vulnerable to spring frost
28
Why are the disadvantages of **Gamay** being **susceptible to milerandage** in **Beaujolais**
* Reduces yields
29
Why are the disadvantages of **Gamay** being **thin skins** in **Beaujolais**
* Vulnerable to damage from the Mistral winds
* Vulnerable to rot
30
Where is **Beaujolais AOC**?
* Regional appellation covering entire area.
* In practice however it is the vineyards in the south as those in the north are Beaujolais-Villages
31
What is the influence of **yields** on the wines of **Beaujolais AOC**
* 60hL/ha
* Some wines of low intensity
32
What are the **wine-law** factors that influence the wines of **Beaujolais AOC**?
* yields
33
Describe **yields** in **Beaujolais AOC**
* 60hL/ha
34
Describe the wines of **Beaujolais AOC**
* Fresh, fruity style
* Good quality, inexpensive
35
Where is **Beaujolais-Villages AOC**?
* Northern part of the region
36
Describe the wines of **Beaujolais-Villages AOC**
* Purple in colour
* Medium intensity red cherry, raspberry, red plum.
* (often with kirsch and banana from semi-carbonic)
* Medium - high acid
* Light - medium(-) body
* Medium alcohol
* Light to medium tannis
* Good - very good quality
* Inexpensive to mid-priced
37
What is the influence of **old vines/quality producers** on the of **Beaujolais-Villages AOC**
* Some producers working organically with old vines produce medium(+) to pronounced intensity wines aged in oak. Very good to outstanding, premium to super premium priced
38
What are the **grape-growing** factors that influence the of **Beaujolais-Villages AOC**?
* old vines/quality producers
39
Where is **Beaujolais Crus**?
* 10 AOCs in the Northern part of the region
40
What is the influence of **quality** on the wines of **Beaujolais Crus**
* Some vineyards in the crus have particularly high quality and land prices are cheaper than Burgundy
* Burgundian growers attracted to area to diversify and driving quality, and increase in oak usage, and encouraging trend away from carbonic maceration
41
What are the **wine-business** factors that influence the wines of **Beaujolais Crus**?
* quality
42
Describe **quality** in **Beaujolais Crus**
* Some vineyards in the crus have particularly high quality and land prices are cheaper than Burgundy
43
Where is **Brouilly AOC**?
* Most southern and marginally warmer area
44
Describe the wines of **Brouilly AOC**
* Lighter, more perfumed style
45
Where is **Chiroubles AOC**?
* Highest altitude Cru. Above Morgon, west of Fleurie
46
Describe the wines of **Chiroubles AOC**
* Lighter and fragrent wines with marked acidity
47
Where is **Fleurie AOC**?
* Between Moulin-a-vent and Morgon
48
Describe the wines of **Fleurie AOC**
* In the south where soils are sandy, light more fragrant wine (AOC known for these)
* In the north where there is more clay, heaver, lower acidity wines
49
Where is **Moulin-à-vent AOC**?
* North, between Fleurie and Chenas
50
Describe the wines of **Moulin-à-vent AOC**
* Most powerful, long lived wines
* Closer in style to Cote d'Or
51
Where is **Morgon AOC**?
* Below Chiroubles
52
Describe the wines of **Morgon AOC**
* From Cote de Py vineyard with pronounced intensity black cherry and age worthy tannin
