THE Beaujolais is often reduced to a production of simple, fruity and light wines made from the Gamay grape variety . Moreover, Beaujolais Nouveau is often mentioned in discussions and taints many people the reputation of the vineyard. Nevertheless, the region is also very well capable of producing rich, complex vintages with good ageing potential thanks to superb terroirs and passionate winegrowers!
In this article, we will explore the geography of the Beaujolais vineyard as well as its different appellations while focusing on the 10 vintages regional .
After reading this, you will have changed your mind about Beaujolais! Follow the leader...
After reading this, you will have changed your mind about Beaujolais! Follow the leader...
Climates, terroirs and grape varieties of Beaujolais
Nestled between Burgundy (south of Mâcon) and the Rhône Valley (north of Lyon), Beaujolais benefits from a temperate semi-continental climate with oceanic and Mediterranean influences.
Moreover, if 97% of production is reserved for red wines made from Gamay grape variety , THE varied terroirs of granites, schists, clays and limestones give the vintages produced a wide variety of profiles .
The remaining 3% is dedicated to the small production of white wines based on Chardonnay grape variety .
What are the appellations of Beaujolais? ?
At the base of the hierarchy of Beaujolais appellations, there are first of all 4 regional AOCs .
The AOC Beaujolais
She is the most important in the region and although covering the entire vineyard, it is mainly located south of the latter. Moreover, if the quasi-exclusivity of the production is carried out on the basis of the grape variety Gamay , 300 hectares are also dedicated to the production of white wine from Chardonnay Whether white or red, the wines of this appellation generally express a light, fresh and fruity character .
The AOC Beaujolais Villages
It is located in the northern part of the region and covers 38 municipalities. The vines in AOC Beaujolais Villages are located on average at an altitude of over 300m and flourish on the best hillsides in the region. Here too, the wines are known for their fruity and gourmet character and can be enjoyed in their youth or after a few years in the cellar.
The Beaujolais Nouveau AOC
She may be the most famous of the vineyard and is in any case the most important in terms of production. Indeed, Beaujolais Nouveau represents almost a third of the production of the entire vineyard ! From a geographical point of view, it overlaps with the Beaujolais and Beaujolais Villages appellations.
Every year, the third Thursday of November , Beaujolais Nouveau is the first wine of the current vintage to be released. As you can imagine, this is a light, fresh and very fruity wine intended to be drunk as an aperitif.
The AOC Coteaux Bourguignons
If, as its name suggests, The AOC Coteaux Bourguignons is mainly present in Burgundy, this one also exists in Beaujolais and allows the production of red and rosé wines based on Pinot noir and Gamay grape varieties . These can be vinified either alone or blended. The production of white wine is also possible from the Aligoté, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris and Melon de Bourgogne varieties.
The wines here are clearly constructed to be drunk as an aperitif and offer a very pleasant fruity character but little complexity.
In addition to these 4 regional appellations, Beaujolais also has 10 vintages (or appellations), which make the vineyard famous. Let’s now discover them !
What are the 10 Beaujolais vintages? ?
Located in the northern part of Beaujolais, 10 crus coexist within the region, each with unique characteristics. From north to south, here is their exhaustive list.
Julienas
The Juliénas appellation extends over 4 villages and 575 hectares . Its vines grow on very varied soils : we find there in fact blue stones (volcanic rocks so called because of their bluish reflections), granite soils, foothills (alluvial soils composed of gravel, sand and clays) or even schists. The altitude here varies between 230 and 430m.
The Juliénas are wines of medium consistency often expressing notes of red fruits (strawberry, raspberry), a floral touch (violet, peony) as well as a light spicy note (cinnamon).
Saint-Amour
A vintage with a name that cannot leave you indifferent ! If Saint-Amour has indeed the chance to be able to instinctively evoke romance and passion , the quality of its wines is also very interesting.
Spanning over 315 hectares within the single village of Saint-Amour-Bellevue , the soils here are composed of foothills, granites, blue stones as well as clays and limestones.
The wines produced can be light and delicious (red fruits, floral notes) but also express more power and depth aromatic (black fruits, light tannic structure, spices). The vintage Villa Violettes of Cheveau domain is located exactly between these two types of wine!
Chenas
With his 250 hectares spread over 2 villages , Chenas is the smallest of the vintages from Beaujolais Its name comes from the ancient oak plantations that were present here in Gallo-Roman times.
The appellation offers generous, silky wines with melted tannins , evoking black fruits, spices and certain floral notes.
Windmill
The appellation takes its name from the windmill nestled in the middle of its vines and dating from the 15th century.Composed of 640 hectares , this vintage is spread over two villages. It is also the only one not to bear the name of a commune ! This one is considered the "King of Beaujolais" because of the power and structure of its wines . The soils rich in manganese contribute to the robustness and density of the vintages produced.
Aromas of black fruits, spices, violet, a mineral touch as well as a good storage capacity are the main characteristics of Moulin-à-Vent wines.
Flowery
With 840 hectares evolving almost exclusively on pink granite floors , Flowery is a name with a particular geography. This is in fact backed by a chain of ridges and offers with the hill of the Madonna a magnificent panorama over the entire vineyard. It is also very probably thanks to these magnificent landscapes that the town of Fleurie was thus named.
The Cru is renowned for producing delicate and elegant wines , considered as the most feminine of Beaujolais . There Late Vintage of Clos de la Roilette expresses all this sensuality and delicacy for example!
Chiroubles
With his 315 hectares , Chiroubles is one of the smallest crus in the region. The vines here are planted on pink granite terroirs and exclusively within the eponymous village. In addition, the vineyard is located between 270m and 600m above sea level, allowing keep freshness in the wines produced . Many plots also have steep slopes (regularly exceeding 30% !), consequently requiring manual harvesting and very meticulous work.
Thanks to all these factors, the appellation offers fresh, gourmet and delicate wines with a silky and delicious texture in the mouth .
Morgon
Morgon is one of the most renowned appellations of Beaujolais and the largest of its vintages. Its 1090 hectares are located exclusively in the commune of Villié-Morgon, on terroirs composed of granite, blue stones and alluvium The vines are located at around 310m altitude.
The vintages of the 250 winegrowers of the appellation generally express remarkable intensity and aromatic complexity . Morgon wines have aromas of black fruits (cherry, blackberry), violet as well as a marked tannic structure, giving them good aging potential . The different vintages in AOC Morgon from Bodillard Vineyards illustrate very well all the richness and power of the region's wines.
Regnié
Régnié is the most recent of the Beaujolais appellations. Created in 1988, it now covers 550 hectares located in two villages at around 350m altitude The soils here are mainly granitic And alluvial .
The wines of Régnié are characterized by their flexibility and their fruit .They are elegant and fine , expressing aromas of red and black fruits (raspberry, strawberry, cherry, blackberry) as well as spicy and minerals .
Brouilly
Brouilly is one of the largest appellations in Beaujolais. With its 1200 hectares located around 290m above sea level and its very varied terroirs (pink granite, foothills, clay-limestone, blue stones, etc.), it is known for its production of light wines, fruity And flexible , pairing divinely well with appetizers and white meats. The Brouilly vintage from the Coudert estate (belonging to the Clos de la Roilette ) perfectly illustrates the characteristics of this appellation.
It is also worth noting that while the AOC Brouilly begins further north than its neighbour Côte de Brouilly, it is the name the southernmost of Beaujolais .
Brouilly Coast
Located on the slopes of Mont Brouilly, This 310 hectare appellation surrounds its neighbor Brouilly The soils here are composed of blue stones, granites, foothills and scree.
Unlike Brouilly, The wines here are full-bodied and intense. , often requiring a few years of storage in order to reach their peak. In the aromatic markers present, we often find slightly sweet black fruit (cherry in particular), spicy notes (pepper) as well as a certain minerality giving very fine balances to the whole
Conclusion
As you may have understood from reading this article, The Beaujolais vineyard is therefore not limited to its Beaujolais Nouveau and is a fascinating wine region. It offers in fact a great diversity of wines ranging from fruity and light vintages to powerful vintages , rich and intense, capable of long years of aging.
With its regional appellations and its 10 vintages that you now know like the back of your hand, the region offers tasters a rich and varied taste experience allowing it to be adapted to many dishes. So, immerse yourself in the world of Beaujolais and let yourself be seduced by its authentic and charming wines. Health of The Illuminated Cellar !
The Gamay grape variety
