Beaujolais Flashcards
When will Bourgogne Aligote no longer accept fruit from Beaujolais?
2035
Who championed the use of carbonic maceration in the 1950s?
Jules Chauvet
What else is Jules Chauvet known for accomplishing?
Developing the INAO tasting glass
Father of the natural wine movement
When was Beaujolais Nouveau first commercialized?
1951
How did Beaujolais’ UNESCO Global Geopark designation in 2018 impact the styles of wine crafted in the region?
An extensive soil assessment revealing 300 soil variations within the vineyards resulted in the designation. Now producers are crafting special cuvees to capitalize on the geo-analysis of their terroir
What are some of the popular vinification techniques for red and rose wines?
(Semi) Carbonic Maceration, traditional Burgundian fermentation techniques for red production
Direct press/saignee for rose production
What two French cities are responsible for launching Beaujolais’ popularity?
Lyon (non-local products were taxed heavily so they opted to drink locally produced wine)
Paris (adopted the Lyonnais tradition of celebrating end of harvest by drinking vin primeur)
What was the original release date of Beaujolais Nouveau (set in 1951) and what did it change to in 1985?
November 15th
3rd Thursday of November
What is the climate of Beaujolais?
Semi-continental
What mountain is to the W of Beaujolais and what river lies to the E of Beaujolais?
Monts du Beaujolais; Saone River
What are the 3 climatic influences of Beaujolais?
Monts du Beaujolais –> rain shadow effect and blocks cold westerly winds
Saone River –> regulates temperature extremes
Mediterranean influence –> creates a semi-continental climate
What are the two main vineyard hazards?
Spring frost and autumn rain
Is Gamay susceptible to gray or black rot?
Gray rot
Describe the soils of Northern Beaujolais
Granitic soils with schist and sand (arene or gorrhe)
Describe the soils of Southern Beaujolais
Clayey Limestone (similar to Maconnais)
What is the name of the broken yellow limestone found in Southern Beaujolais?
Pierres Dorees (Golden stones)
Where are the crus located?
N. Beaujolais on the steep granitic outcrops of the Monts du Beaujolais
What aspect are the slopes of N. Beaujolais and how does it impact grape ripening?
SE; maximizes sunlight exposure and hastens ripening
What are the primary and secondary white grapes grown in Beaujolais?
(P) Chardonnay (2% of plantings)
(S) Aligote and Melon de Bourgogne
What is the gris grape variety grown in Beaujolais?
Pinot Gris
What are the primary and secondary red grapes grown in Beaujolais?
(P) Gamay Noir (98% of plantings)
(S) Pinot Noir
What pruning and training systems are permitted in the Beaujolais Villages and Beaujolais Cru AOCs?
Gobelet (main)
Eventail and Cordon (alternatives)
Where is Guyot pruning/training permitted?
Red and white Beaujolais AOC and white Beaujolais Villages as it typically results in higher yields
Is mechanical harvesting permitted in Beaujolais?
Yes, but not commonly used because of the hilly topography. It is not permitted for Beaujolais Nouveau production
What is Terra Vitis?
Sustainable vine-growing certification specific to Beaujolais grape growers
Beaujolais produces a sparkling sweet rose wine made by methode ancestrale. Are these wines bottled as Beaujolais?
No, Vin de France
What geographical feature divides N and S Beaujolais?
Nizerand River
How many AOCs does Beaujolais have?
12 - Beaujolais AOC, Beaujolais Villages AOC, and 10 Beaujolais Cru AOCs
Beaujolais AOC
Wine Styles:
Grape Varieties:
Dry Red, White, and Rose
White (typically unoaked): (P) Chardonnay, (S) Aligote, Melon
Rose: (S) Pinot Gris
Red (typically grapey with light tannin, light pigment, and bright acidity): (P) Gamay, (S) Pinot Noir
Are red and rose Beaujolais 100% Gamay?
Typically yes, but up to 15% of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Aligote, Pinot Gris, and Melon are permitted
What two things are required for a Beaujolais wine to be labeled as “superieur”?
Higher alcohol and lower yields
How many villages are in the Beaujolais AOC and how many can append their name to the word “Beaujolais” on the label?
96 total villages; 30 can append their names (but rarely do so)
How many villages qualify for Beaujolais Village AOC?
38
How does the granitic soils of the Beaujolais Village AOC impact the wine styles produced?
More densely pigmented, deeper berry fruit, higher minerality
Does Beaujolais Nouveau have its own AOC?
No
What are the two requirements for Beaujolais Nouveau production?
Hand harvesting, semi-carbonic maceration
Beaujolais crus represent about ___% of Beaujolais’ production.
40%
What is the most famous lieux-dit in Beajolais and which AOC is it located in?
Cote du Py; Morgon AOC
Which Beaujolais Crus are known for producing soft and light styled wines?
Fleurie, Saint Amour, Chiroubles
Which Beaujolais Crus are known for producing medium-bodied wines?
Julienas, Regnie, Brouilly, Cote de Brouilly
Which Beaujolais Crus are known for producing powerful and generous wines with significant aging potential?
Morgon, Moulin-a-Vent, Chenas
Saint-Amour is the ________ cru and it’s name translates to ____________.
Northernmost; “Saint Love”
Which cru is considered to be the “Queen of Beaujolais”?
Fleurie
Which cru produces “benchmark” Beaujolais wines?
Chiroubles
Why does harvest in Chiroubles happen later than the other crus?
Highest altitude, coolest site of all the crus
What is the newest Beaujolais cru?
Regnie
How does the sandy soils of Regnie AOC impact the wine style?
More aromatic wines that are quick to mature
How does volcanic element (diorite) impact the wines of Cote de Brouilly?
Adds a unique hint of pepper
Which is the largest Beaujolais Cru?
Brouilly
Which is the smallest Beaujolais Cru?
Chenas
Describe the wines of Chenas?
Concentrated and require bottle age to reach full potential. Wines can have a hint of wood even if there has been no barrel use in production
Which Beaujolais Cru is considered to be the “King of Beaujolais” and why?
Moulin-a-Vent; most full bodied and tannic wines
Define the terms “pinoter” and “pinotent”
When wines become more Pinot-like with age
Describe a typical Morgon AOC wine
Ripe cherry fruit that is more jam or Kirsch like in warm years. with age, the wines pick up earthy notes of forest floor similar to Pinot Noir
Define the term “morgonner”
A local term in Morgon that describes how their wines evolve with age
Those in Morgon attribute the strong cherry note of their wines to this component of their terroir
Decomposed schist aka rotted rocks or “roches pourries”
How does the climate of Coteaux du Lyonnais AOC differ from Beaujolais?
More Mediterranean influence
