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Wine Diploma > Beaujolais > Flashcards

Beaujolais Flashcards

1
Q

Describe the climate in Beaujolais

A

Continental climate, warmer than Burgundy (more southerly latitude)

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2
Q

What is the average rainfall in Beaujolais?

A

740mm per annum

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3
Q

What is the name of the river in Beaujolais?

What affect does this have?

A

The Saone

Moderates temperature extremes

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4
Q

What is the name of the wind blowing through Beaujolais?

What affect does this have?

A

Mistral

Cold wind
Can affect flowering
Can damage leaves and grapes

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5
Q

In which two recent vintages was hail a problem in Beaujolais?

A

2016 and 2017 - a lot of crop was destroyed by hail

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6
Q

How does topography in the north of Beaujolais differ to that in the South?

A

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

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7
Q

Would you find Cru Beaujolais vineyards in the north or south of the appellation?

A

North

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8
Q

What vine training systems are typically used in Beaujolais?

A

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.

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9
Q

What techniques can be used to restrain Gamay’s vigour in Beaujolais?

A

Short pruning

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10
Q

How do producers protect Gamay vines from strong Mistral winds in Beaujolais?

A

Vine orientation and low training gives vines protection

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11
Q

Is harvesting in Beaujolais mostly by hand or by machine?

A

Harvest is by hand - whole bunches are required for Carbonic Maceration

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12
Q

In what part of Beaujolais does harvest begin earlier and why?

A

Harvest is earlier in the north: south and south east facing slopes ensure earlier ripening.

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13
Q

What type of soils do you find in the north of Beaujolais?

A

Free draining granite and schist soils

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14
Q

Explain how conditions in the north of Beaujolais ensure more intensely flavoured Gamay grapes.

A

South and south east facing slopes

Good drainage

Good sunlight interception

Warm granite soils limit vigour and aid ripening

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15
Q

What is the maximum yield for:

Beaujolais AOC?
Beaujolais Villages AOC?

A

Beaujolais AOC: 60hl/ha

Beaujolais Villages AOC: 58hl/ha

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16
Q

Describe the typical winemaking decisions for Beaujolais AOC and Beaujolais Villages AOC wines

A
  • 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
17
Q

Describe the winemaking decisions for Cru Beaujolais AOC wines

A
  • 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
18
Q

Describe the winemaking decisions for Beaujolais Nouveau.

A
  • 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
19
Q

Where would you expect wines labelled Beaujolais AOC to come from?

A

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.

20
Q

When are Beaujolais AOC wines allowed to be released to market?

A

Wines can be sold mid Jan after harvest

21
Q

When are Beaujolais Nouveau wines allowed to be released to market?

A

Wines can be sold the third Thursday in November

22
Q

What percentage of Beaujolais production is Beaujolais Nouveau wine?

A

25%

23
Q

Describe the quality and price of Beaujolais AOC/ Beaujolais Villages AOC

A

Good to very good, inexpensive to mid priced.

24
Q

Describe the quality and price of Cru Beaujolais AOC.

A

V. good to outstanding, mid to premium priced

25
Q

Name the ten Beaujolais cru

A 
Brouilly
Chiroubles
Fleurie
Moulin à Vent
Morgon
St Amour
Régnie
Julienas
Chenas
Côte de Brouilly
26
Q

Describe how some of the top Beaujolais producers might be working in the vineyard and winery (4)

A
  • Attention to sustainable viticulture
  • Less intervention in the winery
  • Use of low yielding old vines
  • Use of oak in the winery
27
Q

Where has Beaujolais attracted investment from? Why?

A

Burgundy

Some vineyards within the crus have a good reputation; producers looking to diversify and the land is cheaper in Beaujolais

28
Q

What is the average size of vineyard holdings in Beaujolais??

A

10ha

29
Q

What percentage of wine sales in Beaujolais is from co-operatives?

A

25%

30
Q

What percentage of Beaujolais is sold in France and how much is exported?

A

60% consumed domestically

40% exported

31
Q

Which countries are the top export markets for Beaujolais? Which quality level do they typically buy?

A

Japan (Nouveau)
USA (Villages + Cru)
UK (Villages + Cru)

32
Q

Who is Georges Dubouef?

A

A negociant who, in 1964, promoted the Nouveau style and created new markets for Beaujolais around the world

33
Q

Which 3 years are considered the best Beaujolais vintages of the past two decades?

A

2009
2010
2015

34
Q

Give a tasting note for a Beaujolais Nouveau wine

A

Light body, low tannin with red berry fruit and notes of kirsch and banana coming from carbonic maceration

35
Q

Which two Beaujolais Crus are considered the most structured?

A

Moulin-a-Vent and Morgon

Wine Diploma (62 decks)

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