Canopy

The “umbrella” formed by the leaves and SHOOTS of the grape vine.

What are Cru Beaujolais?

A. Beaujolais from the best vineyards.

B. Beaujolais that are aged for at least a year in French oak.

C. Beaujolais from selected villages.

D. Beaujolais from what historically have been the top producers (the “cru”).

The Cru Beaujolais refers to wines from ten distinguished villages. (Interestingly enough, in most of the rest of France, the word cru refers to a vineyard.) Most of these villages are in the north of the region on steep granite hills. Cru wines are deeper, denser, more structured and more age worthy than regular Beaujolais. The ten Cru are: St.-Amour, Juliénas, Chénas, Moulin-à-Vent, Fleurie, Chiroubles, Morgon, Régnié, Brouilly, and Côte de Brouilly. Although Beaujolais Nouveau will be released next Thursday, we recommend you drink the far better Cru Beaujolais to celebrate the region.

Legs

Also known as “tears” in Spain and “cathedral windows” in Germany, legs are the rivulets of wine that have inched up the inside surface of the glass above the wine, then run slowly back down.… Continue reading

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