Wines from these hillside vineyards are terrific when young with tons of aromatic peach, cherry, black currant, and raspberry flavor. Pronounced “rehn-yay,” it is the newest Cru of Beaujolais. The young, fleshy palate of peach, apricot, cherry, and plum will develop into a more earthy wine reminiscent of Burgundian Pinot Noir. These are wines meant to age 5–10 years (at least). Their unifying feature is the decomposed schist soil called roches pourries or “rotted rocks” and locals believe this contributes to the ripe cherry aromas found in all the wines. The second largest of the Crus, Morgon is comprised of six climat all with slightly different styles. TIP: When the vineyards of Chiroubles were originally planted, the granite soil was so hard they had to bore holes in the rock. Perfumed aromas of peaches and raspberry mix with Lily of the Valley and baking spices. The wines are classic Beaujolais – refined, suave, silky, and elegant. Grown at the highest altitudes of the region (820-1480 feet), this is also the coolest Cru and the last to start harvest each year. This is another Cru for those who adore the lighter style of Beaujolais. If you’re just getting into Bojo, the wines of Fleurie are a great place to start. Think roses, iris and violet along with some ripe red fruits and peach! The wines are lighter in style and highly aromatic with a ’feminine’ quality. This is “The Queen of Beaujolais.” The vineyards are planted at a higher altitude on the steep slopes at the foot of La Madone. TIP: Moulin-à-Vent gets its name from a local windmill. When they’re young you’ll notice lots of plum, cherry and violet notes, but if you can allow the wine to age up to 10 years you’ll be rewarded with more ‘Pinot’ style – dried fruits, earthy truffles, meat and spice. These are the most tannic and full-bodied wines of all the Cru. Moulin-à-Ventĭubbed “The King of Beaujolais,” this region’s vineyards are grown on decomposed pink granite and soft flaky quartz giving the wines a dark ruby/garnet color, good structure and complexity. But it was Phillip V who decreed that all the trees be removed and replaced with vines!Īppropriately, the wines often have a ‘woodsy’ quality, but it’s their floral notes of rose and iris, plus silky tannins, that earned them the nickname “bouquet of flowers in a velvet basket.” A windmill in Beaujolais. Both the Romans and the monks that followed thought that grapes were more important, so they cleared the land. The smallest and rarest of the Crus, the name Chénas refers to the ancient oak forests that once covered the hillsides. Named after Julius Caesar, these ancient Roman vineyard sites are planted on granite, volcanic and clay soils giving the wines power, structure and terrific aging ability.įloral and fruity, the aromas of strawberry, peach, violet and spicy cinnamon are common. Two styles of wine are produced here: a light, fruity, floral wine that shows notes of violet and peach and a bigger, spicier version that becomes more Pinot-like with age. Check out Les Champs Grillés, En Paradis, Les Bonnets or Le Mas des Tines, to name a few. The region borders the Mâconnais of Burgundy and there are 12 special “climats” or vineyard plots that can add their name to the label. These wines are more complex and are known to age well. Usually, the labels will simply state the name of the Cru.Įach Beaujolais cru has its own distinct personality – climate, soils, altitude, aspect, and a host of other factors – that are duplicated nowhere else. There are 10 Crus of Beaujolais, all in the north and producing only red wines. All of the Beaujolais Cru vineyards are located on the Northern side of Beaujolais.There’s mostly granite and schist (decomposed rock) to the North and clay-based soils (marl) to the South. Divided into two sections by the Nizerand River, with different soils on each side.Beaujolais is just 34 miles long and 7-9 miles wide.Bordered by Burgundy to the North the Saône River (which leads to Côtes du Rhône) to the East the “Gastronomic Capital of France”, Lyon, to the South and the Monts de Beaujolais (the hills of the Massif Central) on the West.Great values from Beaujolais Villages or Beaujolais Supérieur on good vintages (2017, 2016, 2015, 2014…) expect to spend around $12 a bottle.Look for the 10 Beaujolais Crus (Morgon, Fleurie, more below!).The more serious crus designations of Beaujolais drink a lot like red Burgundy. The French wine region of Beaujolais has long been considered part of Burgundy, but today it charts its own course. The wine journal's interior is custom designed to help develop your palate and log wine tasting notes. Want to drink better wine? Take better notes!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |