15 - Burgundy Flashcards
Climate of Burgundy
from cool continental in the north to moderate continental further south
rain in Burgundy
(when, problems)
- can frequently disrupt both flowering in early summer & harvest later in the year
(Continental climate) - in a wet growing season: problems with grey rot
(PN is particularly susceptible)
hazards in Burgundy
- rain (flowering, harvest, grey rot)
- spring frost
(can appear as late as May in Chablis) - localised summer hailstorms
vineyard’s location in Burgundy
- extremely important in determining its quality level in the appellation hierarchy
- basic village-level vy tend to be located on flat sites or at the bottom of slopes
- premier cru or grand cru level are often found mid-slope
why are 1er Cru & GC found mid-slope in Burgundy?
- less prone to frost than those on flat land
- soils on the hillsides tend to be shallower with better drainage, whereas the soil on the flat land is deeper and more fertile
Aspect of the highest-quality vineyards in Burgundy
south or east facing exposure
(offering protection from prevailing westerly winds)
soil in Burgundy
- very varied
- a large number of small geological faults, combined with gradual erosion
–> precise soil types change significantly over small areas - soils on the hillsides tend to be shallower with better drainage, whereas the soil on the flat land is deeper and more fertile
grapes of Burgundy
PN & Chardonnay
Aligoté & Gamay
Pinot Noir in Burgundy
- over 1/3 of the total vy area
- most important plantings: Côte d’Or
Characteristics
- red fruit flavours in youth that evolve into flavours of earth, game & mushroom
- high acidity & low-medium tannins
(vary according to the vy, producer & vintage)
Wm techniques
- wide range of wm techniques
- whole bunches gradually become more popular
- best: 16-18 months’ barrel ageing is normal
- better wines aged in a proportion of new oak
Chardonnay in Burgundy
- nearly half of the total vy area
Characteristics
- varies dramatically
- Chablis: lean, steely, high-acid
- Côte d’Or: complex, expressive
- Mâcon: full-bodied, riper-fruited
- best: well-balanced & complex expressions that can mature in bottle for a decade or more
Wm techniques
- Burgundian winemakers were the pioneers of the techniques that are now associated with premium Chardonnay production around the world:
- barrel fermentation
- barrel ageing (typically 6-9 months)
- MLF
- lees ageing
premature oxidation in Burgundy
- Burgundian Chardonnays
- not ageing as expected
- some bottles of many premium wines showed signs of premature oxidation for their age
- established problem in Burgundy, but as yet no cause has been identified definitively
Aligoté in Burgundy
- tends to produce neutral wines with high acidity
- capable of making high-quality wines when grown in sites where it can reach full ripeness (but these are usually reserved for PN & Chard.)
Gamay in Burgundy
- produces early drinking red wines
- ripe berry fruit
- low tannins
- can be used in some regional appellations, but only PN is allowed for wines of village level &d above
Describe the hierarchy of Burgundy Appellations
- levels
- size (production)
- type of vy
- on the label
- ex.
- the appellations form a hierarchy based on the quality of the vineyard sites
-
Regional Appellations
- half of the production of the region
- from vy that do not have the right to a superior appellation, or declassified from a superior appellation (excessive yields, quality-minded producer)
- Bourgogne Rouge
- Bourgogne Blanc
- Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits
- Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beaune
- Bourgogne Côte Chalonnaise
- Mâcon: red & white wines
- Mâcon Villages: white wines only -
Commune/village Appellations
- about 1/3 of the total production
- on the label: name of the commune,
if from a single vy the vy name may appear as well -
Singe Vineyard Appellations
- vineyards that have consistently made high-quality wines
- monopole: if the vy belong to just one owner (rare)
Premier Cru:
- 10% of the production
- more than 600 (Chablis, Côte d’Or, Côte Chalonnaise)
- on the label: must state premier cru,
if from a single vy, vy name also on the label
Grand Cru
- 1% of production
- 33 in Côte d’Or, 1 in Chablis
- on the label: must stategrand cru,
only the vy appears on the label
4 Burgundy Regions
- Chablis
- Côte d’Or (CdN, CdB)
- Côte Chalonnaise
- Mâconnais
Chablis is a … appellation (level)
VILLAGE/COMMUNE
what appellation lies in the valley of the River Serein?
Chablis
Where is Chablis located?
in the valley of the River Serein in the norther-most part of Burgundy
where are the best vineyards in Chablis planted?
- on slopes
- south-facing aspects
lesser vineyards in Chablis are classified as …
Petit Chablis
major climatic problem in Chablis, and protective measures used
- frost
- sprinklers & heaters
permitted grapes in Chablis
only Chardonnay
basic village level Chablis if often grown on …
north-facing slopes & flatter land
premier cru & grand cru vineyards of Chablis are located on ..
the south-facing hillsides