Beaujolais confident despite hail

Serious hail damage and a devastating rainstorm have been a serious setback for Beaujolais this year but will have no bearing on the final quality of the wines.

Fleurie and Chiroubles were the worst affected by the hail late last month, while 80mm of rain fell in a brief but intense rainstorm around 24 June.

Speaking to the drinks business, Inter-Beaujolais’ managing director, Jean Bourjade, said that while the weather would make for a smaller crop it will have no bearing on the final quality of the crop.

“It will be difficult for some and the vintage will be reduced,” he said, “but there will be no effect on quality. The berries are still very small.”

He added that the long term forecast for July and August was warm and dry.

It is also true that despite the hail hiccup this year, Beaujolais has been “blessed”, said Bourjade, by a string of good vintages of late.

“Since 2012 we’ve had good to exceptional vintages with no hail or frost,” he said.

“It was ‘our turn’ this year but we’ve been blessed otherwise. The 2015 along with the 2009 is one of the great vintages of the last 100 years.”

Bourjade added to the positive comments surrounding the 2015 vintage db had already heard from producers at the Bien Boire en Beaujolais tasting earlier this year.

“The 2014 was a classic vintage with all the qualities Beaujolais drinkers like whereas the 2015s are stronger, with more structure and more alcohol content.

“They’re good cellaring wines, especially the cru wines but even villages, which I wouldn’t say often.”