Beaujolais Flashcards
What is the climate of Beaujolais?
Continental (slightly warmer than the rest of Burgundy)
Name 2 temperature moderators in Beaujolais.
Saone River;
Mistral.
How does the Mistral affect viticulture in Beaujolais?
Can affect flowering;
Can damage leaves + grapes near end of ripening period.
How are the adverse effects of the Mistral mitigated in Beaujolais?
Vine orientation and training them low to the ground to protect them from the high winds of the Mistral.
What is the elevation range in the northern part of Beaujolais (where all the Crus are)?
200-500m asl
What are the soils like in the northern part of Beaujolais (where all the Crus are)?
Fast-draining granite, schist and sandy soils.
What is the orientation of vineyards in the northern part of Beaujolais (where all the Crus are)?
Why are they situated in this direction?
South/southeast to maximize sun exposure.
Gamay characteristics
When does it bud?
It’s sensitive to cold, wind, and rot. What can that do to yield?
A great thing about it is that it ripens ___.
Buds early;
Can reduce yields;
Ripens early*.
*Despite its early ripening, Gamay can retain its acidity even in a warming climate.
Gamay is productive and yields need to be controlled for it to produce concentrated, ripe grapes.
What is one way to restrain its fertility?
Reducing the number of buds.
How are vines trained in Beaujolais?
Bush vines – on steeper slopes and traditionally
Trellised – newer plantings for inexpensive wines (aids mechanization)
Can Beaujolais be chaptalized?
Yes, in cooler years.
Total skin maceration time is:
__ days for Beaujolais
__ days for Beaujolais-Villages
__ days for Cru Beaujolais
4-5 days for Beaujolais;
6-9 days for Beaujolais-Villages;
10-20 days for Cru Beaujolais.
What gives carbonic free-run juice deeper color and tannins?
Adding press juice.
What does it mean when a Cru Beaujolais is described as being “Burgundian in style”?
Grapes destemmed and crushed, followed by fermentation and skin maceration (like most reds);
Aged in small or large barrels with a small portion of new oak.
When can Beaujolais Nouveau be released?
The 3rd Thursday in November the year of harvest.
When are Beaujolais Nouveau wines bottled?
Any time 3-5 days after fermentation is complete to 5 weeks afterwards.
Why can SO2 be high in Beaujolais Nouveau?
If the wine didn’t go through malo, it’s important to add SO2 to ensure it doesn’t happen in the bottle.
Co-ops in Beaujolais are responsible for __% of total Beaujolais sales.
25%
Describe the style of Brouilly AOC in Beaujolais.
Wines are made in a lighter, more perfumed style.
Brouilly is the most southern and a marginally warmer area than the rest of Beaujolais.
Describe the style of Chiroubles AOC in Beaujolais.
Light and fragrant wines with marked acidity.
Chiroubles is the cru highest in elevation.
Describe the styles of Fleurie AOC in Beaujolais.
Southern Fleurie has sandy soils producing lighter and more fragrant wine (which is the reputation of Fleurie);
Northern Fleurie (next to Moulin-à-Vent) has more clay and the wines become heavier, have lower acidity and are more full-bodied.
Describe the style of Moulin-à-Vent AOC in Beaujolais.
Powerful, long lived, closest in style to Côte d’Or reds than to most other Beaujolais.
Describe the style of Morgon AOC in Beaujolais.
Pronounced, intense black cherry and red fruit with sufficient tannins to age for a decade in bottle.
10 crus from north to south
saint-amour
julienas
chenas
moulin-a-vent
fleurie
chiroubles
morgon
regnie
cote de brouilly
brouilly
Beaujolais cru wines can be ____
(red, white, rose)
red only
