Beaujolais Flashcards

1
Q

Where does the Beaujolais region lie?

A

immediately south of the Maconnais in eastern France and is considered part of greater burgundy

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2
Q

What is the dominant variety planted and used in Beaujolais?

A

Gamay - accounting for 98% of plantings

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3
Q

What is white and rose wines made from in Beaujolais?

A

white - mainly chardonnay
rose - Gamay (small amount)

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4
Q

What is the climate in Beaujolais

A

continental climate slightly warmer than the rest of Burgundy

normally adequate rainfall for grape growing (740 mm)

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5
Q

What acts as a moderator of extreme temperatures in Beaujolais?

A

Saone River

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6
Q

What is the region of Beaujolais subject to?

A

cold Mistral winds that can affect flowering in cold, damp, early summer weather and damage leaves and grapes towards the end of the ripening period when Gamay’s naturally thin skins are at their most vulnerable

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7
Q

How are vines trained in beaujolias

A

low to the ground to reduce affects of the Mistral

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8
Q

Which AOC in Beaujolais is the most southern and marginally warmer area producing lighter more perfumed style

A

Brouilly AOC

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9
Q

Which AOC in beaujolias is the cru at the highest Altitude that produces lighter and fragrant wines with marked acidity

A

Chiroubles AOC

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10
Q

How many individual crus with their own AOCs in the northern pasrt of the regiomn for red wines only are there in Beaujolais?

A

10

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11
Q

What are the two crus in beaujolias that are significantly larger?

A

Brouilly and Morgon

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12
Q

What is the size range of the crus in beaujolais?

A

250-1300 ha

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13
Q

What cru in Beaujolais has sandy soils in the southern part of it which produce lighter and more fragrant wines while towards the north the soils are more clay and the wines are heavier, have lower acidity and are more full bodied?

A

Fleurie AOC

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14
Q

What cru in Beaujolais produces more powerful and long lived wines closer to the style of Cote D’Or red wines than most Beaujolias

A

Moulin a vent AOC

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15
Q

What cru in Beaujolais introduces wines from fruit grown on the south-facing Cote de Py vineyard part of appellation that tend to have pronounced intensity of black cherry fruit alongside red fruit and sufficient tannins to age for a decade in the bottle?

A

Morgon AOC

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16
Q

Name the other 5 crus that are not noted in detail in the book for Beaujolais

A

Saint Amour AOC, Julienan AOC, Regnie AOC, Cote de Brouilly AOC and Chenas AOC

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17
Q

compare land prices in Beaujolais and Burgundy

A

cheaper in Beaujolais than Burgundy

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18
Q

What is the current trend in Beaujolais

A

away from semi carbonic maceration and more towards oak especially in Beaujolais Crus

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19
Q

What is the elevation and the soils in the northern part of the region of Beaujolais?

A

200-500m very hilly
fast draining schist, granite and sandy soils

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20
Q

Where are vineyards situation in the northern part of Beaujolais?

A

south, southeast facing slopes for max exposure to the sun

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21
Q

When is harvest typically where Beaujolais Cru and Beaujolais Villages AOCs are located?

A

earlier than for Beaujolais AOC

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22
Q

What is Gamay Noir susceptible to in Beaujolais?

A

spring frost

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23
Q

What is Gamay Noir vulnerable to?

A

millerandage in the cold damp and windy conditions which can lead to reduced yields

think delicate skin vulnerable to rot and wind

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24
Q

When can Gamay be picked and why?

A

before autumn rains arrive due to its early ripening

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25
Q

How do Gamay wines from beaujolais express different nuances

A

based on topography and soil of the site where they are grown which gives wines varying levels of tannins and fruitiness

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26
Q

What does the main difference between sites relate to?

A

ripeness of the grapes including skins and seeds

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27
Q

What kind of sites produce intense fruit character compared to leafy green character often seen in less ripe examples of Gamay in Beaujolais?

A

sites with very good sunlight interception and warm granite soils

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28
Q

What kind of grape is Gamay in terms of yields

A

it is productive and needs to be controlled to produce concentrated ripe grapes

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29
Q

What helps to restrain the high fertility of the Gamay variety?

A

reducing number of buds

30
Q

How were vines traditionally trained in Beaujolais?

A

as bushes giving some protection from the wind. this is still the case on steeper slopes

31
Q

How are vines trained more today in beaujolais for Gamay?

A

on trellises to aid mechanisation especially when the aim is for inexpensive wines

32
Q

How are most Gamay grapes picked in beaujolais

A

by hand because whole bunches are required for the most common form of winemaking in the region

33
Q

What is the most common form of winemaking in beaujolais?

A

semi carbonic maceration

34
Q

Where is Chardonnay usually found in Beaujolais

A

in the north bordering the MAcon Villages appellation

35
Q

Where does CHardonnay do best in terms of soil?

A

cooler marl and limestone soils that slow ripening down and preserve acidity

36
Q

What is Terra Vitis?

A

association founded in Beaujolais that helps to cultivate a lively interest in sustainable and organic viticulture in the region

37
Q

What is a common winemaking procedure in beaujolais?

A

Chaptalisation particularly in cooler years

38
Q

what is the total maceration time on skins for Beaujolais and Beaujolais Villages?

A

4-5 days

39
Q

What is the aim of skin maceration in Beaujolais?

A

to enhance fruitness of the wine and depth of color in order to make wine for early consumption

40
Q

What is press wine blended with in Beaujolais?

A

free run wine as it gives it added color and tannins

41
Q

how are beaujolais wines aged typically?

A

briefly in stainless steel and released early for sale

42
Q

What are typical characteristics of Beaujolais wines

A

kirsche, red fruit, banana, strawberry, and blueberry

43
Q

How long migh very good Beaujolais Village wine be macerated for greater concentration?

A

6-9 days

44
Q

HOw are Cru Beaujolais wines made?

A

made be made in same way as Beaujolais wines, but with extended maceration times (10-20 days) or they made be destemmed and crushed followed by fermentation and maceration on the skins like most red wines.

45
Q

How are Cru Beaujolais wines aged?

A

in small or large barrels with small percentage of new oak- sometimes referred to as Burgundian in style

46
Q

How are Cru beaujolais becoming different than wines made by semi carbonic maceration

A

they are deeper in color and more fuller bodied with higher levels of tannin

47
Q

What kind of regoin has Beaujolais become?

A

a centre of low intervention wine making due to organic and sustainable grape growing

48
Q

When is the earliest any AOC wines can be sold according to French wine law

A

December 15 though most wineries require longer

49
Q

What exception for selling wines earlier than Dec 15 in France was made?

A

Beaujolais Nouveau - starting from the 3rd Thursday in November

50
Q

What is beaujolais Nouveau?

A

category of red wine within AOC regulations depending on where fruit is grown can be labeled Beaujolais Nouveau AOC or Beaujolais Villages Nouveau AOC

51
Q

How are beaujolais nouveau wines made?

A

by carbonic or semi carbonic maceration. bottled 3-5 days after fermentation is finished

52
Q

Do beaujolais nouveau wines go through malolactic conversion?

A

some do, others don’t

53
Q

what other processes are common with Beaujolais Nouveau

A

fining, sterile filtration, and a moderate to high use of S02

54
Q

Describe the Beaujolais AOC

A

in theory it is the regional appellation covering the whole are, but in practice the vineyards are in the south of the region

55
Q

What are the max yields for Beaujolais AOC?

A

60 hl/ha resulting in wines of low intensity flavor

56
Q

When can wines be sold from Beaujolais AOC

A

mid Jan of the year after the harvest as they are made in a fresh and fruity style

57
Q

what is the quality and price of Beaujolais AOC

A

good quality and inexpensive price

58
Q

How do Beaujolais Villages AOC compare to Beaujolais AOC?

A

Beaujolais Villages AOC are tyipcally better quality due to higher levels of ripeness achieved in the northern half of beaujolais.

59
Q

what is the max yield for Beaujolais Villages AOC

A

red = 58 hl/ha

60
Q

When can an individually named village be put on the label of Beaujolais Villages AOC

A

if grapes are sourced from that village

61
Q

General SAT for beaujolais villages AOC

A

purple in color
med intensity fresh red cherry, raspberry, red plum, fruit (often with kirsch and banana)
med+ to high acidity
light to med - body
med alcohol
light to med tannins
good to very good
inexpensive to mid priced

62
Q

General SAT for beaujolais villages AOC for producers working organically with old vines

A

med + to pronounced intensity
med tannins
very good to outstanding
premium and super premium (for Cru styles)

63
Q

What is thge average size of holdings in Beaujolais?

A

10 ha with many growers selling to co-ops

64
Q

How much of beaujolais is sold to France?

A

60%

65
Q

How much beaujolais is exported?

A

40%

66
Q

What are the most important channels sold to in france for Beaujolais?

A

direct sales and specialty wines shops followed by supermarkets and the hospitality sector

67
Q

What are the top three export markets for Beaujolais and what percent of exports do they make up?

A

60%
Japan., USA, and UK

68
Q

What are wine buyers buying instead of the pricey Burgundian Pinot Noirs?

A

Beaujolais Cru

69
Q

who is an important producer in Beaujolais

A

George Duboeuf who from 1964 on promoted Beaujolais Nouveau

70
Q

How much of all Beaujolais is made as Nouveau

A

about a quarter