Brouilly
Brouilly
The largest of the Beaujolais Cru appellations, Brouilly has a vineyard area stretching to 1200 hectares and encompassing six communes. A far cry from the light, youthful Beaujolais Nouveau wines the region is famous for, Brouilly's deeply fruited red Gamay wines have a tendency to bring the plum and red fruit characters to the fore rather than the typical floral notes found in many Gamay wines. Surrounding Mont Brouilly, the lower hillside slopes that make up the appellation are contain a variety of soils, from coarse sand to clay, but all the vineyards rely on the same granite base. A temperate continental climate provides good ripening conditions, with long warm summers cooled by Mediterranean breezes prolonging the ripening season. The wines of Brouilly are typically made to be drunk within 3-4 years, but some examples have the necessary tannin and concentration to hold out for longer. Deep plum and berry flavours and earthy floral characters are typical, with balanced acidity and a clean finish.