Beaujolais Flashcards
pioneer of the natural wine scene in Beaujolais
marcel lapierre (vigneron) jules chauvet (negociant)
most famous certification organisation for sustainability in Beaujolais
terra vitis
what is beaujolais famous for in agriculture
high practice of sustainability
two main climate influences in Beaujolas
saone river cold mistral wind
effect of the saone river in beaujolais
moderate temperature
influences of the mistral
affect flowering in damp early summer damage grapes and leaves during ripening
why gamay is really subsceptible from mistral?
has thin skin so easy to damage grapes
best measures to prevent mistral effects?
aspect
low training
general climate of beaujolais
continental warmer than burgundy
beaujolais average rainfall
740mm
north area soils
granite schist sand generally good drainage
altitude of the north area
200-500mt
what types of wines are produced in the northern area?
beaujolais cru and village
soils of the southern area
generally richer
is chaptalisation used in beaujolais?
yes especially in inexpensive wines and cooler years
maturation vessel for inexpensive beaujolais
stainless steel
techniques to enhance fruit and color concentration in inexpensive, early consumption wines
- semi-carbonic maceration
- 4/5 days maceration
- blend of press + free must (more tannins as well)
maceration times for good quality wines in beaujolais
6/9 days for village
10/20 days for cru
godd quality wines reception techniques
crushing destemming
maturation of good quality wines
small/large barrels small percentage new oak
what they mean when a beaujolais cru is in burgundian style
more color full body high tannins more concentration
style of wine produced in beaujolais
95% reds from gamay
rest is rose and white from chardonnay
an idea of quantity of production of beaujolais
same as all burgundy put together
average holding of a grower
10ha
a growers sold its wine to…
- co ops
- negociants
co-ops are making what amount of total sales
25%
sales: france vs export
60% france 40% export
where is sold mostly outside of france
japan (mostly noveau) USA UK (villages, cru)
where is beaujolais sold in france
mostly direct sales and specialist wine shops rest is hospitality and supermarket
who promoted noveau style?
george duboeuf in 1964 brought it around france and the world
what helped mostly the sales of noveau
export market and noveau wine festival and media event
general effect of beaujolais noveau on the region
made the area profitable cru and village fame came actually after that
who buys cru bottles of beaujolais?
collectors (burgundy crus are too expensive) somms and wine lovers prices are getting towards premium and superpremium
training and reasons in beaujolais
- trellis (aid mechanisation, mostly for inexpensive wines)
- bush vines (wind protection, sun reflection from soils)
how do they harvest in beaujolais?
by hand (preserve whole bunch)
percentage plantings of gamay noir
98%
gamay noir is supsceptible to
spring frost (early budding)
autumn rains (early ripening
millerandage (cold damp conditions)
rot and wind (thin skin)
gamay noir budding and ripening circle
early budding early ripening
most important factors in deciding ripeness
slopes positioning yields
slopes aspect features
good dreinage, sunlight, warm granite soil gives intense ripe character
what happens if gamay noir doesnt reach perfect ripening?
becames too leafy and green
why controlling yields is important?
gamay noir is highly productive
best technique to reduce yields
reducing buds to restraing high fertility
where is chardonnay grown?
northern area next to macon
northern area next to macon soils
cooler marl limestone soils slow down ripening and preserve acidity
is beaujolais noveau an AOC?
no is a category within aoc regulation can be attached to beaujolais aoc and village aoc
label alternative name for noveau
beaujolais primeur
when is noveau sold?
3rd thursday of november following harvest
main techniques used in noveau
carbonic semi-carbonic
when is noveau bottled?
3-5 days after fermentation
before bottling winemaking techniques and why they are used
fining/sterile filtration high SO2 use all to ensure no MLF happnes
maximum yield beaujolais aoc vs beaujolais village aoc
beaujolais - 60hL/ha beaujolais villages - 58hL/ha
beaujolais aoc wines area
covers the whole area of beaujolais but is mostly used in the south part of the appellation
beaujolais aoc style of wines
usually inexpensive of good quality some of them are low intensity of flavor
when is beaujolais aoc sold?
mid january after harvest
main technique for beujolais village aoc
semi-carbonic
main features for best wines made in villages aoc
age in oak
low intervention
from old vines
where the vines of villages aoc comes from
northern area higher ripeness
can a village attach its name to villages aoc
yes but it’s usually not used
can you produce white beaujolais cru?
no
ha sizes for cru
from 250ha to 1300ha
why burgundy producers are buying in beaujolais
cheaper land prices can diversify portfolio
what was the main advantage of having burgundy producers in beaujolais
pushed the overall quality
winemaking in beaujolais from burgundian winemakers
nut much carbonic is used more oak is used
beaujolais cru from north to south
- saint amour
- julienas
- chenas
- moulin a vent
- fleurie
- chiroubles
- morgon
- regnie
- brouilly / cotes de brouilly
brouilly specs
souther, warmer light perfumed wines
chiroubles specs
highest altitude lighter, fragrant, perfumed wines
fleurie two main styles
south sandy soils (lighter, fragrant, floral wines)
norther heavier clay soils (next to Moulin a Vent, lower acidity, full body)
moulin a vent specs
powerfull, long lived similar to cote d’or style
morgon specs
south facing (cote de py vineyard) intense tannins and flavor
carbonic or semi-carbonic in noveau, beaujolais, villages
village, beauj - semi-carbonic
noveau - carbonic
