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French Wine Scholar COPY Donahue > Beaujolais > Flashcards

Flashcards in Beaujolais Deck (91)
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1
Q

What Beaujolais Cru’s are the longest aging?

A

Morgon
Moulin-à-Vent
Chénas

2
Q

What Beaujolais Cru is the smallest?

A

Chénas

3
Q

What Beaujolais Cru is named after Julius Cesar?

A

Juliénas

4
Q

What Beaujolais Cru is the northernmost?

A

Saint Amour

5
Q

What Beaujolais Cru is the highest?

A

Chiroubles

6
Q

What Beaujolais Cru is the newest?

A

Régnié

7
Q

What Beaujolais Cru is the largest?

A

Brouilly

8
Q

What Beaujolais Cru has slopes facing all directions?

A

Côte de Brouilly

9
Q

What are the 11 AOC’s of Beaujolais?

A
The regional AOC is Beaujolais AOC
The Cru AOC's from North to South are:
1. Saint Amour
2. Juliénas
3. Chénas
4. Moulin-à-Vent
5. Fleurie
6. Chiroubles
7. Morgon
8. Régnié
9. Côte de Brouilly
10 Brouilly (note: Brouilly surrounds Côte de Brouilly)
10
Q

How many AOC’s in Beaujolais?

A

11

11
Q

2/3 of all Beaujolais Nouveau production is classified as what AOC?

A

Beaujolais

1/3 is classified as Beaujolais Villages

12
Q

How much of the total Beaujolais production is Nouveau?

A

1/3

13
Q

When is the release of Nouveau?

A

The 3rd Thursday in November

14
Q

Why is vatting time important in Beaujolais?

A

Longer vatting time gives:

  1. Deeper, richer pigented wine
  2. Increases the structure (tannins) & aromatics of the wine
15
Q
What are the vatting times in Beaujolais for:
Nouveau: 
Beaujolais: 
Beaujolais Villages: 
Cru level:
A

Nouveau: 2-3 days
Beaujolais: 4-6 days
Beaujolais Villages: 5-9 days
Cru level: 8-15 days

16
Q

What flavors does Carbonic Maceration add to the wine:

A

Banana, cherry candy, raspberry and cranberry

17
Q

What is the training method in the North & South Beaujolais areas?

A

North: mainly Gobelet also Cordon & Eventail
South: Guyot

18
Q

What is the topography of the North and South Beaujolais areas?

A

North: Mountains
South: Gentle slopes & rolling plains

19
Q

What are the soils of the North and South Beaujolais areas?

A

North: Granite, schist, arène, gorrhe
South: Clay/limestone, Pierres Dorées & river alluviums

20
Q

What 3 things differentiate North and South Beaujolais areas?

A

Soils
Topography
Training Methods

21
Q

What are the 2 rivers of Beaujolais?

A

The Saone & Nizerand rivers

The Nizerand separates North & South Beaujolais

22
Q

What are the characteristics of the Beaujolais Cru Moulin-à-Vent?

A

It is named after a local historical windmill
Most full-bodied and tannic of all CRUs
Soil: Arène, decomposed pink granite rich in manganese
Has a tendency to become “Pinot-Like” locally called Pinoter
Can last a decade

23
Q

What are the characteristics of the Beaujolais Cru Morgon?

A

2nd largest Cru
Named after a local town
Soils: Roches Pourries (rotted rocks), decomposed schist rich in iron and manganese
Flavors of ripe cherry, cherry jam & kirsch
“Morgonner”/”Morgonne” = to pick up notes of forest floor (Sous Bois)
Ageability: 5-10 years

24
Q

What are the characteristics of the Beaujolais Cru Chénas

A

Smallest Cru
Located on an ancient oak forest Chénas means oak tree
Soil: Granite at elevation; clay & stone lower on slopes
Described as “a bouquet of flowers”

25
Q

What are the 3 full bodied Crus in Beaujolais that have structure and staying power?

A
  1. Chénas
  2. Moulin-à-Vent
  3. Morgon
26
Q

What are the characteristics of the Beaujolais Cru Brouilly?

A

Takes its name from Mont Brouilly
Southernmost of all Crus
Largest of all Crus (represents 20% of all Cru Area)
Soil is decomposed diurite (green horns) blue black in color

27
Q

What are the characteristics of Côte de Brouilly?

A

Located on the slopes of Mont Brouilly
Only Cru with vineyards facing all directions
Soil: decomposed diorite with some pink granite on the western slope

28
Q

What are the characteristics of the Beaujolais Cru Juliénas?

A

Named after Julius Cesar
Soils: granite veined with magnesium and porphyry (alluvial clay)
Vineyards are south facing

29
Q

What are the characteristics of the Beaujolais Cru Régnié?

A

It is the newest Beaujolais Cru
Soil: Pink granite, decomposed schist & arène (weathered feldspar)
Vineyards face east

30
Q

What are the Characteristics of the Beaujolais Cru Saint Amour?

A

Northernmost Cru

Soils: Granite and clay

31
Q

What are the characteristics of the Beaujolais Cru Fleurie?

A

Named after a Roman Legionnaire
2 Distinct soil types: Pink Granite & Clay
Wines are elegant and aromatic
Considered most floral/feminine of all the Crus

32
Q

What are the characteristics of the Beaujolais Cru Chiroubles?

A
Highest in elevation & coolest
It is the last to harvest
Soil is granite and gorrhe
Vineyards face southeast
This Cru is considered benchmark Beaujolais
33
Q

What are the 3 light bodied Crus of Beaujolais?

A

Chiroubles
Fleurie
Saint Amour

34
Q

What are the specifications on the Beaujolais Crus?

A
100% red & 100% Gamay
Soils: Granite, schist & mineral sands
Yields: Lowest in Beaujolais, Planting density is high
Vines are short pruned & hand harvested
Vatting time 8-15 days
35
Q

From north to south what are the 10 Crus of Beaujolais?

A
  1. Saint Amour
  2. Juliénas
  3. Chénas
  4. Moulin-à-Vent
  5. Fleurie
  6. Chiroubles
  7. Morgon
  8. Régnié
  9. Côte de Brouilly
    10 Brouilly (note: Brouilly surrounds Côte de Brouilly)
36
Q

What are the steps in Carbonic Maceration?

A
  1. Whole clusters and berries are put into the tank without pressing
  2. The weight causes bottom grapes to burst, creating an anaerobic environment inside the berries
  3. The length of time allows more and more grapes to burst increasing alcohol, pigment and tannins
37
Q

What is the harvesting method in Beaujolais?

A

Hand harvesting

Machine harvesting on request

38
Q

What are the training methods in Beaujolais?

A
For Village & Cru level
Gobelet (traditional)
Cordon (simple or double)
Eventail
The lower yields concentrates the juice

For red and white Beaujolais Villages
Guyot - Generates higher yields

39
Q

Describe Gamay…

A

A cross between Gouais Blanc & a member of the Pinot family
Thin skinned with low tannins & pigment with high acidity
Light to medium bodied wine with bright purple pigments & bold aromatics
Represents 98% of all Beaujolais plantings

40
Q

What are the 3 topographies of Beaujolais from north to south?

A

Monts du Beaujolais
Gentle hills
Rolling Plains

41
Q

Where are the Crus of Beaujolais located?

A

Best vineyards are located on the southwest aspect of the steep Monts de Beaujolais

42
Q

What is the topography of the North and South Beaujolais?

A

Mountains in the North

Rolling slopes in the South

43
Q

What are the characteristics of Gamay on the different soils of North & South Beaujolais

A

On the granite and schist of the north it is more structured and complex, used for the Beaujolais Crus

On the clay and limestone of the south it is light, fruity and easy drinking. Used for the regional Beaujolais AOC

44
Q

What is the soil of Southern Beaujolais?

A

Clay (sedimentary)
Limestone (sedimentary)
Also a broken yellow limestone called Pierres Dorées

45
Q

What is the soil of Northern Beaujolais?

A

Granite (igneous rock)
Schist (metamorphic rock)
Arène & Gorrhe (weathered feldspar, micas, quartz & more)
over 300 million years old

46
Q

Who ruled Beaujolais in the 10th Century?

A

The Lords of Beaujeu

47
Q

What is the climate of Beaujolais?

A

Semi-Continental
It experiences all 4 seasons
But because of the Mediterranean its climate is slightly buffered

48
Q

What level of wine is produced in the marl & limestone of Southern Beaujolais?

A

AOC level wine

49
Q

What level of wine is produced in the Northern Beaujolais on its granite & schist?

A

Beaujolais Crus

Beaujolais Villages

50
Q

What river divides Northern and Southern Beaujolais?

A

The Nizerand

51
Q

What is the position of Beaujolais in France?

A

The Macon to the north
City of Lyon to the south
Monts de Beaujolais to the west
Saone River to the east

52
Q

What is the land area dimension of Beaujolais?

A

34 miles north to south

7-9 miles east to west

53
Q

What year did the INAO officially change the release of Nouveau to the 3rd Thursday in November?

A

1985

54
Q

What is “en primeur”?

A

The drinking of wine when it is first vinified (Nouveau)

The Gamay grape is well suited for this due to its fruitiness and low tannin

55
Q

What impact did the railways have on Beaujolais?

A

It expanded the wine market with Paris becoming one of its top customers

56
Q

Who maintained the vineyards from the 7th century through the middle ages?

A

The Benedictine Monks

57
Q

What AOC is named after Julius Cesar?

A

Juliénas

58
Q

What is the southernmost Cru?

A

Brouilly

59
Q

What Beaujolais Cru is famous for it soils of “Roches Pourries” (decomposed schist)?

A

Morgon AOC

60
Q

What is Arène (or Gorrhe)?

A

A sandy, mineral-rich soil found in Northern Beaujolais

61
Q

What Beaujolais Cu is considered the most fruity, delicate and floral?

A

Fleurie

62
Q

What 3 Beaujolais Crus are regarded as having the greatest aging potential?

A
  1. Chénas
  2. Moulin-à-Vent
  3. Morgon
63
Q

What Beaujolais Cru is the largest in Size?

A

Brouilly

64
Q

What grape variety(ies) is/are used to produce red beaujolais?

A
Beaujolais AOC red wines must contain at least:
85% Gamay
Up to 15% 
Pinot Gris
Pinot Noir
Chardonnay
Aligoté
Melon de Bourgogne
(in practice these field blends are rare?
65
Q

What grape variety(ies) ia/are used to produce white Beaujolais AOC?

A

100% Chardonnay

66
Q

What is the climate of Beaujolais?

A

Semi-continental with Mediterranean influences

67
Q

What Beaujolais Cru is generally considered the most Age-worthy full bodied and tannic?

A

Moulin-à-Vent

68
Q

What is the smallest Beaujolais AOC?

A

Chénas

69
Q

What soil type generally produces more structured, complex wine in Beaujolais?

A

Granite and schist

70
Q

What type of soil is preferred by Gamay?

A

Granite

71
Q

What method is generally used to make sparkling sweet rosé wine in Beaujolais?

A

Methode Ancestrale

72
Q

What grape is used for the white wines of Beaujolais?

A

Chardonnay

73
Q

What Beaujolais Cru is known for Cornes Verts (blue-green soil)

A

Brouilly

74
Q

What grape is responsible for 98% of the wines in Beaujolais?

A

Gamay

75
Q

What river flows east of Beaujolais?

A

The Saône

76
Q

The tendency of Moulin-à-Vent to become Pinot Noir like as it ages is called?

A

“Pinoter” a verb used in Beaujolais to describe the wine changing

77
Q

Is Beaujolais Nouveau a style or wine or an AOC?

A

It is a style of wine that can be made under the Beaujolais or Beaujolais Village AOC’s

78
Q

Which Burgundian Appellations can include grapes grown in Beaujolais?

A

Coteaux Bourguignons
Bourgogne Rouge, Blanc, & rosé
Bourgogne Pinot Noir, Aligoté and Gamay

79
Q

What Beaujolais Cru is considered to be benchmark Beaujolais?

A

Chiroubles

80
Q

What river divides northern and southern Beaujolais?

A

The Nizerand

81
Q

What is the northernmost Beaujolais Cru?

A

Saint Amour

82
Q

What Beaujolais Cru is considered to be King of Beaujolais?

A

Moulin-à-Vent

83
Q

What % of Nouveau is Cru level?

A

2/3

84
Q

What % of Beaujolais is bottled as Nouveau?

A

1/3

85
Q

Before the French Revolution what 5 sub regions made up the “Grande Bourgogne”?

A
  1. Chablis
  2. Côte-d’Or
  3. Côte Chalonnaise
  4. Mâconnais
    5 Beaujolais
86
Q

What is carbonic maceration?

A

An enzymatic, whole berry fermentation, designed to capitalize on fruity aromas vs pigment and tannin

87
Q

What grape represents 98% of vineyard production in Beaujolais?

A

Gamay

88
Q

What Beaujolais Cru is the newest?

A

Régnié AOC (1985)

89
Q

When is Beaujolais Nouveau day?

A

The 3rd Thursday of November

90
Q

What are the medium bodied Crus of Beaujolais?

A
  1. Brouilly
  2. Côte de Brouilly
  3. Régnié
  4. Juliénas
91
Q

What Beaujolais Cru has the highest elevation and coolest climate?

A

Chiroubles