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The 12 Beaujolais
Appellations
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 Beaujolais
is written with an "S" because there are 12 of them.
No, Beaujolais isn't only Beaujolais Nouveau. And, even if this is the
most famous ambassador of the Pays Beaujolais, there is no reason to forget
the other appellations. The 's' at the end of Beaujolais is because there
are 12 of them.
 Beaujolais
This appellation spreads over the largest area. Par of the wine produced
there is enjoyed all over the world in November as Beaujolais Nouveau.
Beaujolais
Villages
The vines for these wines grow in 38 communes make up 25% of the total
wine production in Beaujolais. These wines are also sold as Beaujolais
Villages Nouveau.
The
Beaujolais Crus
Brouilly, Chénas, Chiroubles, Côte-de-Brouilly, Fleurie, Juliénas,
Morgon, Moulin à Vent, Régnié, and Saint Amour and
the 10 Beaujolais Crus that are the jewels in Beaujolais' crown. It's well
worth the wait if you leave them in the bottle for a few years. Connoisseurs
wait for the spring following the harvest before tasting them. They wait
for the Beaujolais Crus to have "done their Easter duty" (fait leurs Pâques)
as the winemakers say. This means that the Crus have reached maturity and
can be appreciated at their full value.
Vintage code
This classification is based on general and objective observation. Naturally
it can't cover every one of the thousands of wines made in the three families,
if you take into account the nuances specific to each 'terroir' and to
each vintage, the 'mark' of each winemaker and broker, any or all of which
can justify a difference from the following table.
| ***** |
EXCEPTIONAL (Vintage of the century or decade) |
| **** |
EXCELLENT |
| *** |
GOOD |
| ** |
QUITE GOOD |
| * |
ACCEPTABLE |
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| Vintage |
Beaujolais Nouveaux |
Beaujolais and
Beauj. Villages |
Beaujolais Crus |
| 1988 |
** |
*** |
** |
| 1989 |
*** |
***** |
**** |
| 1990 |
**** |
**** |
**** |
| 1991 |
*** |
***** |
***** |
| 1992 |
*** |
** |
** |
| 1993 |
** |
*** |
**** |
| 1994 |
*** |
*** |
*** |
| 1995 |
*** |
**** |
**** |
| 1996 |
*** |
*** |
** |
| 1997 |
**** |
**** |
**** |
| 1998 |
*** |
*** |
*** |
| 1999 |
**** |
*** |
**** |
| 2000 |
***** |
**** |
**** |
| 2001 |
** |
*** |
*** |
| 2002 |
** |
** |
*** |
| 2003 |
***** |
***** |
***** |
| 2004 |
*** |
**** |
*** |
| 2005 |
***** |
***** |
***** |
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