Beaujolais

Question 1

What is the climate of Beaujolais?

Answer 1

Continental (slightly warmer than the rest of Burgundy)

Question 2

Name 2 temperature moderators in Beaujolais.

Answer 2

Saone River;
Mistral.

Question 3

How does the Mistral affect viticulture in Beaujolais?

Answer 3

Can affect flowering;
Can damage leaves + grapes near end of ripening period.

Question 4

How are the adverse effects of the Mistral mitigated in Beaujolais?

Answer 4

Vine orientation and training them low to the ground to protect them from the high winds of the Mistral.

Question 5

What is the elevation range in the northern part of Beaujolais (where all the Crus are)?

Answer 5

200-500m asl

Question 6

What are the soils like in the northern part of Beaujolais (where all the Crus are)?

Answer 6

Fast-draining granite, schist and sandy soils.

Question 7

What is the orientation of vineyards in the northern part of Beaujolais (where all the Crus are)?

Why are they situated in this direction?

Answer 7

South/southeast to maximize sun exposure.

Question 8

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 ___.

Answer 8

Buds early;
Can reduce yields;
Ripens early*.
*Despite its early ripening, Gamay can retain its acidity even in a warming climate.

Question 9

Gamay is productive and yields need to be controlled for it to produce concentrated, ripe grapes.

What is one way to restrain its fertility?

Answer 9

Reducing the number of buds.

Question 10

How are vines trained in Beaujolais?

Answer 10

Bush vines – on steeper slopes and traditionally
Trellised – newer plantings for inexpensive wines (aids mechanization)

Question 11

Can Beaujolais be chaptalized?

Answer 11

Yes, in cooler years.

Question 12

Total skin maceration time is:

__ days for Beaujolais

__ days for Beaujolais-Villages

__ days for Cru Beaujolais

Answer 12

4-5 days for Beaujolais;
6-9 days for Beaujolais-Villages;
10-20 days for Cru Beaujolais.

Question 13

What gives carbonic free-run juice deeper color and tannins?

Answer 13

Adding press juice.

Question 14

What does it mean when a Cru Beaujolais is described as being “Burgundian in style”?

Answer 14

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.

Question 15

When can Beaujolais Nouveau be released?

Answer 15

The 3rd Thursday in November the year of harvest.

Question 16

When are Beaujolais Nouveau wines bottled?

Answer 16

Any time 3-5 days after fermentation is complete to 5 weeks afterwards.

Question 17

Why can SO2 be high in Beaujolais Nouveau?

Answer 17

If the wine didn’t go through malo, it’s important to add SO2 to ensure it doesn’t happen in the bottle.

Question 18

Co-ops in Beaujolais are responsible for __% of total Beaujolais sales.

Answer 18

25%

Question 19

Describe the style of Brouilly AOC in Beaujolais.

Answer 19

Wines are made in a lighter, more perfumed style.

Brouilly is the most southern and a marginally warmer area than the rest of Beaujolais.

Question 20

Describe the style of Chiroubles AOC in Beaujolais.

Answer 20

Light and fragrant wines with marked acidity.

Chiroubles is the cru highest in elevation.

Question 21

Describe the styles of Fleurie AOC in Beaujolais.

Answer 21

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.

Question 22

Describe the style of Moulin-à-Vent AOC in Beaujolais.

Answer 22

Powerful, long lived, closest in style to Côte d’Or reds than to most other Beaujolais.

Question 23

Describe the style of Morgon AOC in Beaujolais.

Answer 23

Pronounced, intense black cherry and red fruit with sufficient tannins to age for a decade in bottle.

Question 24

10 crus from north to south

Answer 24

saint-amour
julienas
chenas
moulin-a-vent
fleurie
chiroubles
morgon
regnie
cote de brouilly
brouilly

Question 25

Beaujolais cru wines can be ____
(red, white, rose)

Answer 25

red only