Beaujolais

Question 1

What is the climate of Beaujolais?

Answer 1

Continental climate and slightly warmer than rest if Burgundy.

Adequate rainfall.

Question 2

What are the natural factors impacting viticulture in Beaujolais?

Answer 2

Saone River act as moderator of extreme temperatures.

Cold Mistral winds that can affect flowering and damage leaves and grapes near the end of the season.

Question 3

What are the soils of Beaujolais?

Answer 3

Northern area is hilly (200-500m) and has granite, schist and sandy soils.

Southern part is flatter with richer soils.

Question 4

What are the key characteristics of the Gamay grape?

Answer 4

Early budding and early ripening.

Think skinned.

Productive grape so reduce number of buds to control yields.

Prone to millerandage in cold, damp and windy conditions, so reduce yields.

Vulnerable to rot.

Question 5

In terms of wines from the Gamay grape in Beaujolais, what is the key difference between those from better site tonthose giving less-ripe examples?

Answer 5

Intense fruit character versus green leafy character.

Question 6

What is the normal training methods in Beaujolais?

Answer 6

Traditionally Bush trained so giving some protection from the wind.

Now where possible trained on trellises for mechanisation.

Training low and careful vine orientation to avoid wind damage.

Question 7

How are grapes harvested in Beaujolais?

Answer 7

Mostly By hand as whole bunches are needed.

Question 8

In Beaujolais where donyou find Chardonnay plantings and the type of soil they grow on?

Answer 8

North if Beaujolais bordering Maconnais.

On cooler marl or limestone soils to slow down ripening, so preserving acidity.

Question 9

What types of viticulture has a lovely interest in Beaujolais?

Answer 9

Sustainable and organic.

Question 10

What is the main fermentation method used in Beaujolais?

Answer 10

Semi carbonic mceration

Question 11

Which fermentation adjust is common is Beaujolais?

Answer 11

Chaptalisation, especially in cooler years

Question 12

For Beaujolais and Beaujolais Villages, what are the typical skin maceration period and maturation vessel?

Answer 12

4-5 days for for both.

For very good Beaujolais Villages 6-9 days.

Fermentation vessel is stainless steel and only briefly for earky release.

Question 13

For Cru Beaujolais wines made via semi carbonic maceration, what is the skin maceration period?

Answer 13

10-20 days.

Question 14

What is the winemaking method behind Burgundian style Cru Beaujolais wines?

Answer 14

Grapes destemmed then crushed.

Fermentation and maceration on skins like most red wines.

Aged in small or large barrels.

May have Small proportion of new oak.

Question 15

What type if winemaking has Beaujolais become the centre of?

Answer 15

Low intervention.

Question 16

Comment on Beaujolais Nouveau AOC and Beaujolais Villages Nouveau AOC including winemaking choices.

Answer 16

Sold from third Thursday in November.

Made via Carbonic or semi carbonic maceration.

Bottled 3-5 days after fermentation.

Some go through MLC, some don’t.

Fining, sterile filtration and moderate to high SO2 are common.

Question 17

What is the max yield for Beaujolais AOC, when can it be sold and quality and price?

Answer 17

Moderate at 60 hL/ha.

Can be sold from mid-Jan year after harvest.

Good quality and inexpensive in price.

Question 18

What is the typical style of Beaujolais-Villages AOC?

Answer 18

Purple, medium (+) to high acidity, medium alcohol, light to medium tannins, light to medium (-) body, medium intensity, fresh red cherry, raspberry, red plum, kirsh, banana.

Good to very good.

Inexpensive to mid-priced.

Question 19

Under the Beaujolais-Village AOC, For top producers working organically with old vines, making low intervention wines that may be aged in oak, what is the key differences in style and price?

Answer 19

Medium (+) to pronounced intensity, medium tannins.

Very good to outstanding.

Premium and super premium in price.

Question 20

Name the Beaujolais crus that are lighter and more fragrant in style

Answer 20

Brouilly, Chiroubles and Fleurie.

Question 21

What are the soils of Fleurie and their cortesponding wine styles?

Answer 21

Southern pary sandy soils, lighter and more fragrant.

Northern have more clay, wines are heavier, lower acidity and more full bodied.

Question 22

Name the Beaujolais cru that is closer in style to wines of Cote d’Or?

Answer 22

Moulin-a-Vent.

Wines are the most powerful and long lived.

Question 23

Comment in Morgon AOC

Answer 23

Pronounced intensity of black cherry along with red fruits.

Have sufficient tannins to age jn bottle for a decade.

Includes wines fron south faving Côte de Py vineyard.

Question 24

What helped to drive quality in Beaujolais and move away from carbonic maceration and use more oak especially in crus?

Answer 24

Land prices cheaper than Cote d’Or so attracted investment from Burgundy growers looking to diversify.

Question 25

What are teh main routes go market for Beaujolais wines?

Answer 25

Co-ops (25%) and negociants

Question 26

What is the split of doemstic and export for Beaujolais wines?

Answer 26

60% domestic and 40% exported.

Key markets include USA, UK (Villages & Crus) and Japan (Nouveau).

Question 27

What are the main sales channels in France for Beaujolais wines?

Answer 27

Direct, specialist wine shops, supermarkets and hospitality.

Question 28

Which groups have started following Beaujolais crus in recent years?

Answer 28

Burgundian Pinot buyers and Burgundy prices have increased.

Sommeliers and wine lovers, especially in USA, prices reaching premium and super-premium.

Question 29

Name an important Beaujolais negociant

Answer 29

George Duboeuf

Question 30

What percentage of Beaujolais production is from Noiveau and key markets

Answer 30

25%

Japan, France and UK