Cote de Brouilly
Cote de Brouilly
Cote de Brouilly is one of the ten appellations granted Beaujolais Cru status and covers the slope of the volcanic Mont Brouilly in Beaujolais. Surrounded completely by the Brouilly appellation, Cote de Brouilly takes up space on the steeper mid-slopes of the mountain, and offers a different style of Gamay wine, with a floral, fruit-forward, concentrated style that does not have the earthy character of the wines of Brouilly below it. The higher slopes are laden with diorite, a stony soil derived from ancient volcanic activity. This free-draining, infertile soil leads to lower yields, which in turn creates fruit of excellent quality and rich concentration. Warm temperatures help grape ripening, and the area is one of the first to be harvested thanks to its southerly location and sheltered aspect. Cherry, plum and red berry flavours dominate, alongside the floral note typically found in Gamay wines, the best of which can age for several years, developing complexity and character.
