Beaujolais Flashcards
Where is Beaujolais?
- Immediately south of the Maconnais, to north of Lyon in Eastern France.
Describe Beaujolais Nouveau?
- 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)
What is the influence of Climate on the wines of Beaujolais
- Continental climate, sliughtly warmer than the rest of Burgundy
- Adequate rainfall (740mm)
What is the influence of Saone River on the wines of Beaujolais
- Moderates extreme temperatures
What is the influence of Cold Mistral Winds on the wines of Beaujolais
- Detrimental to flowering
- Can damage leaves and grapes towards end of ripening
What is the influence of soils in the Northern area on the wines of Beaujolais
- Fast draining granite, schist and sandy soils
What is the influence of semi-carbonic maceration on the wines of Beaujolais
- Majority of Beaujolais is made by semi-carbonic maceration
- Kirsch, banana and blueberry aromas
What is the influence of chapitalisation on the wines of Beaujolais
- common in cooler years
What is the influence of maceration on the wines of Beaujolais
- 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
What is the influence of aging on the wines of Beaujolais
- Typically brief, in stainless steel (cru wines in oak though)
- Reduces production costs
What is the influence of average holding size on the wines of Beaujolais
- 10 ha
- Many growers sell to cooperatives
What are the growing-environment factors that influence the wines of Beaujolais?
- Climate
- Saone River
- Cold Mistral Winds
- soils in the Northern area
What are the wine-making factors that influence the wines of Beaujolais?
- semi-carbonic maceration
- chapitalisation
- maceration
- aging
What are the wine-business factors that influence the wines of Beaujolais?
- average holding size
Describe Climate in Beaujolais
- Continental climate, sliughtly warmer than the rest of Burgundy
- Adequate rainfall (740mm)
Describe soils in the Northern area in Beaujolais
- Fast draining granite, schist and sandy soils
Describe semi-carbonic maceration in Beaujolais
- Majority of Beaujolais is made by semi-carbonic maceration
Describe chapitalisation in Beaujolais
- common in cooler years
Describe maceration in Beaujolais
- 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
Describe aging in Beaujolais
- Typically brief, in stainless steel (cru wines in oak though)