Beaujolais Flashcards

1
Q

Where is Beaujolais?

A
  • Immediately south of the Maconnais, to north of Lyon in Eastern France.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Describe Beaujolais Nouveau?

A
  • Category of wine within the AOC regulations
  • Can be labelled Beaujolais [-Villages] Nouveau depending on origin of fruit
  • Exception in wine law to allow release third Thursday in November
  • Carbonic or semi-carbonic maceration
  • MLF may or may not take place (if not, fining/filtering/moderate to high SO2 required)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is the influence of Climate on the wines of Beaujolais

A
  • Continental climate, sliughtly warmer than the rest of Burgundy
  • Adequate rainfall (740mm)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is the influence of Saone River on the wines of Beaujolais

A
  • Moderates extreme temperatures
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is the influence of Cold Mistral Winds on the wines of Beaujolais

A
  • Detrimental to flowering
  • Can damage leaves and grapes towards end of ripening
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is the influence of soils in the Northern area on the wines of Beaujolais

A
  • Fast draining granite, schist and sandy soils
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the influence of semi-carbonic maceration on the wines of Beaujolais

A
  • Majority of Beaujolais is made by semi-carbonic maceration
  • Kirsch, banana and blueberry aromas
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is the influence of chapitalisation on the wines of Beaujolais

A
  • common in cooler years
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is the influence of maceration on the wines of Beaujolais

A
  • typically 4-5 days for Beaujolais and Beaujolais-Villages
  • Very good quality Villages may be 6-9 days
  • Cru wines may be 10-20 days, or detstemmed, crushed and macerated
  • The aim is to enhcance fruitiness and depth of colour
  • Longer maceration gives move concentration
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is the influence of aging on the wines of Beaujolais

A
  • Typically brief, in stainless steel (cru wines in oak though)
  • Reduces production costs
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the influence of average holding size on the wines of Beaujolais

A
  • 10 ha
  • Many growers sell to cooperatives
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What are the growing-environment factors that influence the wines of Beaujolais?

A
  • Climate
  • Saone River
  • Cold Mistral Winds
  • soils in the Northern area
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are the wine-making factors that influence the wines of Beaujolais?

A
  • semi-carbonic maceration
  • chapitalisation
  • maceration
  • aging
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are the wine-business factors that influence the wines of Beaujolais?

A
  • average holding size
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Describe Climate in Beaujolais

A
  • Continental climate, sliughtly warmer than the rest of Burgundy
  • Adequate rainfall (740mm)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Describe soils in the Northern area in Beaujolais

A
  • Fast draining granite, schist and sandy soils
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Describe semi-carbonic maceration in Beaujolais

A
  • Majority of Beaujolais is made by semi-carbonic maceration
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Describe chapitalisation in Beaujolais

A
  • common in cooler years
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Describe maceration in Beaujolais

A
  • typically 4-5 days for Beaujolais and Beaujolais-Villages
  • Very good quality Villages may be 6-9 days
  • Cru wines may be 10-20 days, or detstemmed, crushed and macerated
  • The aim is to enhcance fruitiness and depth of colour
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Describe aging in Beaujolais

A
  • Typically brief, in stainless steel (cru wines in oak though)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Describe average holding size in Beaujolais

A
  • 10 ha
22
Q

Describe the wines of Beaujolais

A
  • Large quantity of wine (same as rest of Burgundy) from Gamay
  • Tiny amounts of rosé from Gamay and whites from Chardonnay
23
Q

Describe Gamay in Beaujolais

A
  • Gamay expresses differences depending on soil and site, giving varying tannin and fruitiness
  • Differences mainly relate to ripeness of grapes, including skins, and seeds
  • Grapes grown on slops with good drainage, sunlight interception and warm granite soils are more fruity than the leafy character of less ripe examples
  • Productive and yields need to be controlled to ensure quality.
  • Mostly picked by hand as whole bunches required for semi-carbonic maceration
24
Q

Describe Chardonnay in Beaujolais

A
  • Grown in the north bordering Mâcon Villages
25
Q

What are the characteristics of Gamay in Beaujolais?

A
  • early budding
  • susceptible to milerandage
  • early ripening
  • thin skins
26
Q

Why are the advantages of Gamay being early ripening in Beaujolais

A
  • Usually picked before Autumn rains
27
Q

Why are the disadvantages of Gamay being early budding in Beaujolais

A
  • Vulnerable to spring frost
28
Q

Why are the disadvantages of Gamay being susceptible to milerandage in Beaujolais

A
  • Reduces yields
29
Q

Why are the disadvantages of Gamay being thin skins in Beaujolais

A
  • Vulnerable to damage from the Mistral winds
  • Vulnerable to rot
30
Q

Where is Beaujolais AOC?

A
  • Regional appellation covering entire area.
  • In practice however it is the vineyards in the south as those in the north are Beaujolais-Villages
31
Q

What is the influence of yields on the wines of Beaujolais AOC

A
  • 60hL/ha
  • Some wines of low intensity
32
Q

What are the wine-law factors that influence the wines of Beaujolais AOC?

A
  • yields
33
Q

Describe yields in Beaujolais AOC

A
  • 60hL/ha
34
Q

Describe the wines of Beaujolais AOC

A
  • Fresh, fruity style
  • Good quality, inexpensive
35
Q

Where is Beaujolais-Villages AOC?

A
  • Northern part of the region
36
Q

Describe the wines of Beaujolais-Villages AOC

A
  • Purple in colour
  • Medium intensity red cherry, raspberry, red plum.
  • (often with kirsch and banana from semi-carbonic)
  • Medium - high acid
  • Light - medium(-) body
  • Medium alcohol
  • Light to medium tannis
  • Good - very good quality
  • Inexpensive to mid-priced
37
Q

What is the influence of old vines/quality producers on the of Beaujolais-Villages AOC

A
  • Some producers working organically with old vines produce medium(+) to pronounced intensity wines aged in oak. Very good to outstanding, premium to super premium priced
38
Q

What are the grape-growing factors that influence the of Beaujolais-Villages AOC?

A
  • old vines/quality producers
39
Q

Where is Beaujolais Crus?

A
  • 10 AOCs in the Northern part of the region
40
Q

What is the influence of quality on the wines of Beaujolais Crus

A
  • Some vineyards in the crus have particularly high quality and land prices are cheaper than Burgundy
  • Burgundian growers attracted to area to diversify and driving quality, and increase in oak usage, and encouraging trend away from carbonic maceration
41
Q

What are the wine-business factors that influence the wines of Beaujolais Crus?

A
  • quality
42
Q

Describe quality in Beaujolais Crus

A
  • Some vineyards in the crus have particularly high quality and land prices are cheaper than Burgundy
43
Q

Where is Brouilly AOC?

A
  • Most southern and marginally warmer area
44
Q

Describe the wines of Brouilly AOC

A
  • Lighter, more perfumed style
45
Q

Where is Chiroubles AOC?

A
  • Highest altitude Cru. Above Morgon, west of Fleurie
46
Q

Describe the wines of Chiroubles AOC

A
  • Lighter and fragrent wines with marked acidity
47
Q

Where is Fleurie AOC?

A
  • Between Moulin-a-vent and Morgon
48
Q

Describe the wines of Fleurie AOC

A
  • In the south where soils are sandy, light more fragrant wine (AOC known for these)
  • In the north where there is more clay, heaver, lower acidity wines
49
Q

Where is Moulin-à-vent AOC?

A
  • North, between Fleurie and Chenas
50
Q

Describe the wines of Moulin-à-vent AOC

A
  • Most powerful, long lived wines
  • Closer in style to Cote d’Or
51
Q

Where is Morgon AOC?

A
  • Below Chiroubles
52
Q

Describe the wines of Morgon AOC

A
  • From Cote de Py vineyard with pronounced intensity black cherry and age worthy tannin