What is Beaujolais Superieur?

In terms of relative quality, the Beaujolais Supérieur appellation is a step up from basic Beaujolais AOC and a step down from Beaujolais-Villages. As with any Beaujolais at any level of quality, Gamay Noir is the only permitted red grape variety.

How long does a Beaujolais last?

Given that Beaujolais is light and fruit-driven, most wines are best consumed within the first year or two of bottling (apart from Beaujolais Nouveau, which should be consumed as soon as possible). The best cru Beaujolais, however, is capable of aging for up to 10 years.

Is Beaujolais Nouveau a good wine?

Beaujolais nouveau breaks almost all of the rules of traditional wines, but every fall it is highly sought after for its fresh, fruit-forward flavors.

What is the difference between Beaujolais and Beaujolais Villages?

Beaujolais Villages AOC is a slightly smaller appellation than Beaujolais AOC (3,900 ha; 9,600 acres), in the hilly country to the north, or the “Haut Beaujolais.” Some of the hills are very steep — the steepest in all of Beaujolais — and the soils tend to be rockier and thinner than in Beaujolais AOC, making wines …

Does Beaujolais Villages age well?

Does Beaujolais Age Well? Yes! Beaujolais is delicious on release but the best Beaujolais, especially from the top Beaujolais Crus, age beautifully and should be a part of any reasonably priced cellar.

Is Beaujolais similar to Pinot Noir?

Yes, cru Beaujolais wines are made from Gamay grapes, but their texture and mouthfeel can be quite similar to Pinot Noir. Indeed, where these two wines differ most dramatically, for the moment at least, is in price. Shoppers can find several well-made cru Beaujolais offerings in the $20 range.

Is 2020 a good year for Beaujolais?

Like the rest of the wine world, the 2020 vintage for Beaujolais was shaken by the pandemic with Covid having a particularly dramatic effect on Beaujolais Nouveau and the traditional events that surrounds it. The growing season was warm and, as a result, reasonably successful.

What makes Beaujolais Nouveau special?

Beaujolais Nouveau is made from the Gamay noir à Jus blanc grape, better known simply as Gamay. The wine is made using carbonic maceration, whole berry anaerobic fermentation which emphasizes fruit flavors without extracting bitter tannins from the grape skins.

How long does Beaujolais last after opening?

Regular Beaujolais and Beaujolais-Villages (not Nouveau) should be consumed within 2 years of the vintage date on the bottle. Cru Beaujolais (we’ll get to that in a hot minute) is usually safe up to 3 years, but some can even last to 10 years depending on the vintage.

Is Malbec similar to Pinot Noir?

Malbec is meatier, grittier, has more structure, whereas pinot noir is light, aromatic, and low in alcohol content. Malbec has a moderate to high tannin content whereas pinot noir is light on tannins, leading some to consider it a more accessible easy-drinking red.

What do they call Pinot Noir in France?

Pinot noir (French: [pino nwaʁ]) is a red wine grape variety of the species Vitis vinifera. The name may also refer to wines created predominantly from Pinot noir grapes. The name is derived from the French words for pine and black….

How many appellations are there in the Beaujolais region?

The new rules for Beaujolais appellations were issued by INAO in 2011 There are twelve main appellations of Beaujolais wines covering the production of more than 96 villages in the Beaujolais region. They were originally established in 1936, with additional crus being promoted in 1938 and 1946, plus Régnié in 1988.

What’s the minimum alcohol level for Beaujolais wine?

The minimum natural alcohol level for the grapes is 10%, and the maximum yield is 60 hl/ha (65 hl/ha for a bumper crop) The wine may be labeled as Beaujolais Supérieur in case the minimum natural alcohol level for the grapes is 10,5%, and the maximum yield is 58 hl/ha (63 hl/ha for a bumper crop).

When do Beaujolais Villages Nouveau wines come out?

Beaujolais-Villages AOC, the intermediate category in terms of classification, covers 39 communes/villages in the Haut Beaujolais, the northern part of the region accounting for a quarter of production. Some is sold as Beaujolais-Villages Nouveau, but it is not common. Most of the wines are released in the following March after the harvest.

Who are the producers of the Beaujolais wine?

Producer, Georges duBoeuf, is known for making a fun new Beaujolais Nouveau label every year. With the help of French wine educator, Hilarie Larson, we’ve created a guide to the Beaujolais region in the hope of shedding some detail on the topic. It’s time to explore the secret and learn how to find good Beaujolais wine. What is Beaujolais?