WINES OF THE WORLD 🇫🇷 France - Beaujolais Flashcards
Climate of Beaujolais
Continental climate. Adequate rainfall with 740 mm. Cold Mistral wind.
Key elements in the topography of Beaujolais
The Saone River moderates the extreme temperatures. Hills (200-500 m) in the northern part and flat land in the south.
Type of soils in Beaujolais
Fast-draining granite, schist and sandy soils in the N, while the S has rich soils.
Hazards in Beaujolais
Problems of flowering, damaged leaves and grapes due to the Mistral wind.
Main grape varieties of Beaujolais
Gamay (98%), Chardonnay.
Main training systems in Beaujolais
Bush vines on the steeper slopes, low training due to the Mistral wind. Increasing of trained and trellised vines to aid mechanisation.
Harvest for wines from Beaujolais
Early in the N and then in the S. Hand harvest.
Main appellations within Beaujolais
- Beaujolais Nouveau AOC or Beaujolais Villages Nouveau AOC
- Beaujolais AOC
- Beaujolais Villages AOC
- Beaujolais Crus
Main crus of Beaujolais
- Brouilly AOC
- Chiroubles AOC
- Fleuries AOC
- Moulin-à-Vent AOC
- Morgon AOC
Brouilly AOC
One of the two largest crus of Beaujolais, the most southern, warmer area.
Chiroubles AOC
One of the crus of Beaujolais, at the highest altitude
Fleuries AOC
One of the crus of Beaujolais, sandy soils in the S while the N have more clay.
Moulin-à-Vent AOC
One of the crus of Beaujolais.
Morgon AOC
One of the two largest crus of Beaujolais, S aspect.
Types of wines made in Beaujolais
Mainly red wine, tiny amount of rosé and white. 25% Beaujolais Nouveau.
Key winemaking operations for Beaujolais and Beaujolais Villages
Mainly semi-carbonic maceration. Chaptalisation is common. Maceration of 4-5 days for Beaujolais and Beaujolais Villages (6-9 days for top Villages). Stainless steel.
Key winemaking operations for Beaujolais Crus
Longer maceration (10-20 days) for Cru Beaujolais wines, otherwise, traditional red winemaking process (destemming, crushing and fermentation).
Key winemaking operations for Beaujolais Nouveau
Made by carbonic or semi-carbonic maceration. Bottled 3-5 days after fermentation.
Key maturation practices in Beaujolais
Wines made in a Burgundian style can age in small or large barrels (small % of new oak).
Style for wines in Beaujolais AOC
Fresh and fruity.
Style for wines in Beaujolais Villages AOC
Purple colour, med int of red cherry, raspberry, red plum (kirsch and banana if semi-carbonic maceration), med+/high acidity, low/med tannin, med alcohol, low/med- body. If wine from old vines, med+/pron intensity, med tannin.
Style for wines in Brouilly AOC
Lighter and more perfumed style.
Style for wines in Chiroubles AOC
Lighter and fragrant wines with marked acidity.
Style for wines in Fleuries AOC
Lighter and more fragrant wine in the S, lower acidity and fuller body in the N.
Style for wines in Moulin-à-Vent AOC
The most powerful and long-lived wines, similar to Côte d’Or.
Style for wines in Morgon AOC
Pron int of black cherry and sufficient tannin to age.
Types of businesses that operate in Beaujolais
Avg size of holdings is 10 ha. Many growers sell to co-operatives (25% of the sales) or négociants.
George Duboeuf was important in the promotion of Beaujolais Nouveau.
Days of maceration on the skins for Beaujolais and Beaujolais Villages
4-5 days, also 6-9 days for top Villages
When Beaujolais Nouveau can be sold
From the third Thursday in November
Number of Beaujolais Crus
10
When Beaujolais AOC wines can be sold
From mid-January after the harvest.
