Beaujolais Flashcards
Describe the climate in Beaujolais
Continental climate, warmer than Burgundy (more southerly latitude)
What is the average rainfall in Beaujolais?
740mm per annum
What is the name of the river in Beaujolais?
What affect does this have?
The Saone
Moderates temperature extremes
What is the name of the wind blowing through Beaujolais?
What affect does this have?
Mistral
Cold wind
Can affect flowering
Can damage leaves and grapes
In which two recent vintages was hail a problem in Beaujolais?
2016 and 2017 - a lot of crop was destroyed by hail
How does topography in the north of Beaujolais differ to that in the South?
Northern area of Beaujolais is hilly (200 to 500m) with south and south east facing slopes maximising sunlight exposure.
Beaujolais AOC area in the south is flatter
Would you find Cru Beaujolais vineyards in the north or south of the appellation?
North
What vine training systems are typically used in Beaujolais?
Vines were traditionally trained as bushes for protection from the Mistral - this is the case on the steeper slopes still.
Vines in the south are increasingly trained on trellises to aid mechanisation, especially for cheaper wines.
What techniques can be used to restrain Gamay’s vigour in Beaujolais?
Short pruning
How do producers protect Gamay vines from strong Mistral winds in Beaujolais?
Vine orientation and low training gives vines protection
Is harvesting in Beaujolais mostly by hand or by machine?
Harvest is by hand - whole bunches are required for Carbonic Maceration
In what part of Beaujolais does harvest begin earlier and why?
Harvest is earlier in the north: south and south east facing slopes ensure earlier ripening.
What type of soils do you find in the north of Beaujolais?
Free draining granite and schist soils
Explain how conditions in the north of Beaujolais ensure more intensely flavoured Gamay grapes.
South and south east facing slopes
Good drainage
Good sunlight interception
Warm granite soils limit vigour and aid ripening
What is the maximum yield for:
Beaujolais AOC?
Beaujolais Villages AOC?
Beaujolais AOC: 60hl/ha
Beaujolais Villages AOC: 58hl/ha
Describe the typical winemaking decisions for Beaujolais AOC and Beaujolais Villages AOC wines
- Chaptalisation in cooler years
- Semi carbonic: enhance fruitiness and depth of colour for early drinking
- Total maceration on skins: 4 to 5 days (v.good quality village may be 6-9 days for more concentration)
- Blend press and free run wine; add colour and tannin
- Hold breifly in stainless steel before bottling and release; reduce production costs
Describe the winemaking decisions for Cru Beaujolais AOC wines
- May be made the same way as villages AOC but with extended maceration (10 to 20 days)
- Some may destem and crush, followed by fermentation on skins
- Age in small/ large barrels with a small % of new oak: increased production cost
- Burgundian in style
- Wines becoming deeper in colour, more full bodied and more tannic than those made by semi-carbonic maceration
Describe the winemaking decisions for Beaujolais Nouveau.
- Can be labelled Beaujolais AOC or Villages depending on where the grapes are from
- Full or semi carbonic maceration
- Wines bottled 3 to 5 days after fermentation
- Some may undergo MLF, others may not
- Fining and sterile filtration are common as is moderate to high use of SO2
- SO2 is important if MLF has not occured, preventing the wine from doing so in bottle
Where would you expect wines labelled Beaujolais AOC to come from?
Technically wines can come from anywhere in the appellation but in practice the vineyards are in the south where the land is flatter and the soils are richer.
When are Beaujolais AOC wines allowed to be released to market?
Wines can be sold mid Jan after harvest
When are Beaujolais Nouveau wines allowed to be released to market?
Wines can be sold the third Thursday in November
What percentage of Beaujolais production is Beaujolais Nouveau wine?
25%
Describe the quality and price of Beaujolais AOC/ Beaujolais Villages AOC
Good to very good, inexpensive to mid priced.
Describe the quality and price of Cru Beaujolais AOC.
V. good to outstanding, mid to premium priced
Name the ten Beaujolais cru
Brouilly Chiroubles Fleurie Moulin à Vent Morgon St Amour Régnie Julienas Chenas Côte de Brouilly
Describe how some of the top Beaujolais producers might be working in the vineyard and winery (4)
- Attention to sustainable viticulture
- Less intervention in the winery
- Use of low yielding old vines
- Use of oak in the winery
Where has Beaujolais attracted investment from? Why?
Burgundy
Some vineyards within the crus have a good reputation; producers looking to diversify and the land is cheaper in Beaujolais
What is the average size of vineyard holdings in Beaujolais??
10ha
What percentage of wine sales in Beaujolais is from co-operatives?
25%
What percentage of Beaujolais is sold in France and how much is exported?
60% consumed domestically
40% exported
Which countries are the top export markets for Beaujolais? Which quality level do they typically buy?
Japan (Nouveau)
USA (Villages + Cru)
UK (Villages + Cru)
Who is Georges Dubouef?
A negociant who, in 1964, promoted the Nouveau style and created new markets for Beaujolais around the world
Which 3 years are considered the best Beaujolais vintages of the past two decades?
2009
2010
2015
Give a tasting note for a Beaujolais Nouveau wine
Light body, low tannin with red berry fruit and notes of kirsch and banana coming from carbonic maceration
Which two Beaujolais Crus are considered the most structured?
Moulin-a-Vent and Morgon
