by Miss Vicky Wine, http://missvickywine.blogspot.com
So I was going to write about Burgundy, or the Santa Cruz Mountains, and then … when following the beaujolais conversation on the Internet, I’ve started getting scared. Very few beaujolais drinkers seem to understand this region correctly, some drinkers that I can’t blame as they seem to be very badly informed. So from now on, I decided I should write an article a month on the region and its wines. Starting today.
Back to Basics
Beaujolais IS NOT Burgundy, but it is located closed enough for you to be confused – It is begining at the southern frontier of it. What is also confusing is that most of its crus can also be called Vins de Bourgogne (Burgundy Wines). Which has no interest unless you are ashamed of your own region and want to loose everyone’s mind.
Grapes
The Gamay grape variety is on the majority of the Beaujolais wine territory – its wines are single variety. This grape is an old cousin from Pinot Noir, so that when it ages it can have the same particularities, we call it “Pinote”. Some blind tastings with burgundies and old beaujolais crus can provoke confusion amongst the tasters. Beaujolais, like pinot noir, has light tannins and is easy drinking, it also has aromas of cherries. It makes refreshing wines that will change you from heavy reds.
In beaujolais, just like in Burgundy, you can find Chardonnay. It is very rare (3% of production) so no one has heard of it. These Chardonnays have a very good price to quality ratio and are light, fresh, fruity with some minerality. Once you’ve tried it, you usually make it your friend for life. It is sometimes confused with wines from Maconnais (whites from south Burgundy).
Appellations
A cru is an appellation of beaujolais, the highest one. In beaujolais there are 10 crus and they all have a different terroir so make different wines. The 10 crus are: Moulin-à-vent, Fleurie, Saint Amour, Brouilly, Côte de Brouilly, Morgon, Chenas, Julienas, Chiroubles, Régnié. For Chenas and Julienas, don’t prononce the “s” when you say it. Régnié is the most recently created, so it doesn’t come under the law that says it can be called a wine from Burgundy.
Beneath the Crus is Beaujolais-Village, a wine that usually is drunk within the 2 first years after production but can sometimes be as refined as a cru. You’ll find white and rosé wines under this name too.
Under Beaujolais-Village is Beaujolais, the general appellation for the region, it makes simple wines, very fruity that are not made to age long. You’ll find white and rosé wines under this name too.
On the side of all of this is Beaujolais Nouveau. A wine that is known worldwide but has nothing to do with the 3 other categories. It has its own very particuliar taste, is drunk every year from the 3rd Thursday of November, 2 months after production. Like it or not, but please don’t confuse it with the other Beaujolais wines.
Therefore, you can drink Beaujolais all year long and not only at the Beaujolais Nouveau time.
Winemakers
Duboeuf is one of the major beaujolais wine makers and wine sellers in the world. So you might know his beaujolais wines and his beaujolais nouveau label, with flowers. Even though some of his selection is good, and you might have no other choice for beaujolais nouveau, there are hundreds of other producers in the region with equally or better beaujolais wines. Don’t hesitate to look for them where you are.
Visit Us
Beaujolais is a wonderful wine region, with hillsides and old villages. It is worth visiting. Wine makers are welcoming and will be happy to make you taste their refreshing reds.
I think I have said enough for today, I will come back to it shortly. Should you need more help on the subject, don’t hesitate to ask questions – justforyou@missvickywine.com or on twitter @vickywine.
Miss Vicky Wine is a French wine blogger who writes about wine tastings and other adventures, often with reference to her home region of Beaujolais where her family makes wine in Fleurie. Read all about it at http://missvickywine.blogspot.com where this article was first posted. Photo credits: Aurelien Ibanez.
Tags: Beaujolais, Bloggers, Chardonnay, France, Gamay, Miss Vicky Wine