L3- Beaujolais Chapter 16 Flashcards
What is the climate of Beaujolais?
It has a moderate to warm continental climate similar to the Maconnais.
This works well because the Gamay grape buds and ripens early.
Produces mostly early drinking, fruity wines
Where do the best wines in Beaujolais come from?
Typically from granite soils
What type of yields does the gamay grape typically produce?
large yields which produces lower quality wines . Granite soils with low levels of nutrients, because normally gamay produces large yields of grapes which produces lower quality wines. So granite soils make the yields lower and grape flavors more concentrated
How are beaujolais vineyards typically trained?
Untrellised
Vines are pruned around the head and tied together vertically, however, some grape growers are now training wines along wires to allow for mechanization.
What are typical characteristics of gamay?
Fragrant aromas of ripe berry fruit raspberry, cherry fruit, red berry fruit, kirsch, banana, cinnamon like spice (from carbonic maceration)
Rarely have more than medium body and tannin
lightest styles can be served lightly chilled
What are the hierarchies of Beaujolais?
At the bottom is the regional appellation of Beaujolais.
Then is Beaujolais Villages
and at the top are Beaujolais crus
What style of Beaujolais is produced to the east and south of the region? (near the alluvial plain of the river Saone)
In this region Beaujolais is produced primarily through carbonic and semi-carbonic maceration.
Beaujolais Nouveau can only come from Beaujolais or Beaujolais Villages -it can’t be made from the 10 crus. The flavors are light in body and tannin with red berry fruit, adn notes of kirsch, banana, cinnamon-like spice from carbonic maceration
Where are Beaujolais Villages located and what is their style?
The 39 Beaujolais Villages are located in the north and west of the region, where granite soils are found. Individual village names rarely appear on wine labels, Beaujolais Villages is typically a blend from different villages
How many cru appellations exist in Beaujolais? Which have the greatest production and what are their styles?
10 crus -each a separate appellation
Brouilly, Morgon, Fleurie and Moulin-a-Vent have the greatest production
Moulin-a-Vent and Morgon produce the most structured wines (high fruit concentration and higher tannins mean these can improve with bottle aging)
Brouilly and Fleurie produce lighter wines and more perfumed styles. Many undergo a crushed fruit fermentation, some will receive oak aging, often in large vats rather than casks and do not use new oak. Some producers use either small proportions of whole bunches or semi-carbonic maceration to produce brighter fruit aromas.
