What's the fuss about Beaujolais?

Beaujolais wine is celebrated for its delightful and approachable character, its connection to French culture and traditions, its versatility, and its capacity to provide great value for wine enthusiasts. Whether you're looking for an easy-drinking wine or a more complex and nuanced option, Beaujolais offers a wide range of choices to suit various preferences and occasions.

York Wine Club Offer

This month we explore Beaujolais and all of it's beauty. It works well with food, well on it's own and has a history of cool French sophistication which York Wine Club wants to bring back. If you'd like to purchase the Beaoujolais offer, then click on the link below.

Buy the Beaujolais Offer

These wines are versatile and can be enjoyed young or aged. They are food-friendly, in that their bright acidity, low tannins, and fruit-forward character make them an excellent choice for a wide range of dishes, from charcuterie and poultry to vegetarian and seafood dishes.

Tradition & Celebration

Beaujolais became a significant part of Parisian culture and gained popularity in the city during the 20th century, particularly in the mid-20th century. The rise of Beaujolais in Paris is closely associated with the annual tradition of celebrating the release of Beaujolais Nouveau, which takes place on the third Thursday of November.

The tradition of releasing Beaujolais Nouveau and celebrating its arrival in Paris dates back to the 1950s and 1960s. At that time, Beaujolais producers began promoting the wine as a festive and youthful wine meant to be enjoyed shortly after the harvest. The release of Beaujolais Nouveau in Paris quickly became a popular and highly anticipated event.

Where is Beaujolais?

The Beaujolais wine region is located in east-central France. It is situated in the northern part of the larger wine-producing region of Rhône-Alpes, which is in the eastern part of the country. Beaujolais is nestled between the city of Lyon to the south and the southernmost part of Burgundy to the north.

The Beaujolais region is known for its rolling hills and vineyard-covered slopes, which are home to the Gamay grape variety. The vineyards of Beaujolais extend over a relatively small area, but within this region, there is a diverse range of terroirs and appellations, each contributing to the unique character of Beaujolais wines.

The windmill at Moulin a Vent (Moulin is windmill in French)

What is Beaujolais Nouveau?

Beaujolais is most famous for the annual release of Beaujolais Nouveau, celebrated on the third Thursday of November. This event is widely recognized as a festive occasion, and it marks the first release of the new vintage of Beaujolais wines, particularly the young and fresh Beaujolais Nouveau.

But what about the Beaujolais Crus?

In addition to the Beaujolais and Beaujolais Villages appellations, there are the prestigious Crus. The 10 villages where the terroir and winemaking create truly great Gamay wines. Keep in mind that individual wine producers, vintages, and winemaking styles can also greatly influence how long a specific wine from a Beaujolais cru can age. They can be characterised by their age-worthiness, specific appellation and producer. A generalranking on age-worthiness from the more approachable when young to those that can develop more complexity with time is as follows:

Beaujolais Nouveau: These wines are meant to be enjoyed very young and are not typically suitable for long-term aging. They are released shortly after the harvest and are best consumed within a year of their release.
Chiroubles: Chiroubles wines are known for their floral and delicate character. They are generally approachable when young and can be enjoyed within a few years of the vintage, but they may not age as long as some other crus.
Régnié: Régnié wines often have a good balance of fruitiness and structure. While they can be delightful in their youth, some examples may benefit from a few years of aging, typically up to 3-5 years.
Brouilly: Brouilly wines are fruity and approachable, making them enjoyable when young. They can age well for 3-5 years, with some showing additional complexity as they mature.
Côte de Brouilly: Côte de Brouilly wines, made from vineyards on the slopes of Mont Brouilly, are generally more structured and can age for 5-7 years. They can develop a more profound character with some bottle age.
Saint-Amour: Saint-Amour wines are often characterized by their floral and red fruit notes. While they can be consumed young, the better examples may evolve nicely with 5-7 years of aging.
Juliénas: Juliénas wines have more structure and depth than many other crus. They can age well, and some can be enjoyed at their best after 5-10 years or even longer.
Chénas: Chénas wines can be quite age-worthy, with 5-10 years or more of aging potential. They tend to develop a more complex and savory character with time.
Morgon: Morgon is known for producing robust and structured wines. Many Morgon wines have a good potential for aging, with 5-10 years being a common range, and some premium examples can evolve even longer.
Moulin-à-Vent: Moulin-à-Vent is often considered the most age-worthy of all the Beaujolais crus. These wines can be excellent candidates for aging, and some of the best Moulin-à-Vent wines can improve for 10-15 years or more, developing rich, complex, and earthy characteristics.

What's so special about Beaujolais?

Beaujolais wine is often considered amazing for several reasons, which primarily revolve around its unique characteristics, production methods, and cultural significance. The key elements of Beaujolais are;

Gamay Grape Variety: Beaujolais wine is made primarily from the Gamay grape variety, which is known for its bright and fruity flavors. Gamay grapes produce wines with pronounced red fruit notes, such as cherry, raspberry, and strawberry. These flavors make Beaujolais wines incredibly approachable and enjoyable.
Terroir: The Beaujolais region in France has diverse terroirs, including granite soils and varying microclimates. This diversity allows for the expression of different flavor profiles and qualities in the wines produced there. Terroir plays a significant role in shaping the unique characteristics of Beaujolais wines.
Granite Soils: Granite is the dominant soil type in Beaujolais. The region's hilly terrain is composed of various types of granite, such as decomposed pink granite and blue stone. These granitic soils are particularly well-suited for the Gamay grape variety, contributing to the wines' minerality and bright fruit flavors.
Different Cru Appellations: Beaujolais is divided into ten distinct cru appellations, each with its own unique terroir. These appellations include Morgon, Fleurie, Brouilly, Moulin-à-Vent, and others. Each cru has specific soil types, slopes, and microclimates that influence the character of the wines. For example, Morgon is known for its robust and structured wines, while Fleurie tends to produce lighter, more floral wines.
Altitude and Microclimate: The region's varying altitudes and microclimates contribute to the diversity of Beaujolais wines. Higher-altitude vineyards may have cooler temperatures and produce wines with more acidity, while lower-altitude vineyards may result in riper and fruitier wines.
Aspect and Sun Exposure: The direction in which vineyards face (their aspect) and their sun exposure can impact the ripeness and flavor profile of the grapes. South-facing vineyards, for example, receive more sunlight and warmth, which can lead to riper fruit flavors, while north-facing vineyards may have a cooler, fresher profile.
Wind Patterns: Beaujolais is influenced by various wind patterns, including the Mistral and the Bise winds, which can affect vineyard temperatures and protect against disease pressure. These wind patterns can contribute to the overall health and character of the vines.
Geographical Location: Beaujolais is located in the eastern part of France, neighboring Burgundy. This proximity to Burgundy can also influence some winemaking practices and traditions in the region.
Carbonic Maceration: The winemaking process in Beaujolais often involves a technique called carbonic maceration. During this process, whole grapes are fermented in a carbon dioxide-rich environment before being crushed. This method contributes to the wine's bright fruit flavors, low tannins, and soft, silky texture.
Complexity in Cru Beaujolais: While Beaujolais Nouveau is the most well-known style, the region also produces more serious and complex wines known as "Beaujolais crus."

Why is the Gamay grape variety in Beaujolais?

Philip the Bold, was the Duke of Burgundy and ruled from 1363 to 1384 in this wider region of France. One of his most notable actions was the ban on the cultivation of Gamay in the Burgundy region, which had a lasting impact on the history of wine production in the area.

In 1395, Philip the Bold issued an edict known as the "Gamay Ban" (Ordinance of Philip the Bold). This edict prohibited the planting of Gamay grapes within the Burgundy region, particularly in the Côte d'Or area. The Duke's primary motivation for this ban was to protect the reputation and quality of the region's signature grape variety, Pinot Noir. Gamay was considered a lesser grape variety in his view, and its cultivation was seen as detrimental to the prestige of Burgundian wines.

As a result of the Gamay Ban, the cultivation of Gamay was pushed south, away from the heart of the Burgundy region, into the neighboring region of Beaujolais. This decision had a profound and lasting impact on both Burgundy and Beaujolais. In Beaujolais, Gamay thrived and became the dominant grape variety, leading to the development of the unique style of Beaujolais wine that is known for its fruity and approachable character.

Meanwhile, in Burgundy, the focus remained on Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and other grape varieties. The legacy of Philip the Bold's edict is still visible today, with Burgundy known for its world-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines, while Beaujolais has established itself as the home of Gamay and produces a distinctive style of wine that has its own following.

Philip the Bold's Gamay Ban is an important historical episode that shaped the wine regions of Burgundy and Beaujolais and influenced the grapes cultivated in these areas.

I hope you enjoy this month's selection of wines and can appreciate the beauty of this region and it's wines.

<end>