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
what does the south-facing hillsides of Chablis give to the wine?
greater concentration & ripeness
characteristics of Petit Chablis & Chablis
- can be very austere
- green fruit
- high acidity
better examples display riper fruit flavours
characteristics of Chablis Premier Cru & Chablis Grand Cru
- riper, more concentrated fruit
(citrus, rather than green apple) - more body
- balanced by high acidity
oak in Chablis?
A number of producers ferment or age a portion of their grand cru and sometimes premier cru wines in old oak, which can give a rounder texture & subtle flavours
Others prefer to retain pure fruit flavours by fermenting & storing the wines in stainless steel or concrete
what does old oak bring to Chablis premier cru and GC wines?
rounder texture & subtle flavours
mountain range alongside the western limit of the Côte d’Or
The Massif Central
what does the Massif Central provide to Côte d’Or?
- favourable east & south-east facing hillside vineyard locations
general difference between wines in CdN vs CdB
& how does the appellation system reflect this?
CdN: many of the fullest-bodied, longest-lived PN
CdB: PN generally in a fruitier style, more famous for producing the best Chardonnays in the region
- all of the red grands crus, except one, are produced on the CdN
- all the white grands crus, except one, come from the CdB
Key villages of CdN from north to south (4)
& their most famous grands crus sites (6)
-
Gevrey-Chambertin
(Chambertin, Chambertin Clos de Bèze) -
Vougeot
(Clos de Vougeot) -
Vosne-Romanée
(Romanée-Conti, La Tâche, La Romanée) - Nuits-Saint-Georges
Important villages of CdB from north to south (7)
& their most famous grands crus sites (4)
-
Aloxe-Corton
(Corton, Corton-Charlemagne) - Beaune
- Pommard
- Volnay
- Meursault
-
Puligny-Montrachet
(Montrachet) -
Chassagne-Montrachet
(Montrachet)
2 appellations with only red wine in CdB
- Pommard
- Volnay
appellations with both red & white wine in CdB (5)
- Aloxe-Corton
- Beaune
- Meursault
- Puligny-Montrachet
- Chassagne-Montrachet
the 3 villages with the highest reputation for their white wines
- Meursault
- Puligny-Montrachet
- Chassagne-Montrachet
which villages is sharing the grand cru of Montrachet?
- Puligny-Montrachet
- Chassagne-Montrachet
red, white or both for
1. Côte de Nuits-Villages
2. Côte de Beaune-Villages
- CdN: red or white
- CdB: must be red
But there are exceptions!
- Where are Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits and Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beaune situated?
- 2 factors that will influence the climate
- How are the characteristics of the wines affected by this?
- to the west of and at a higher altitude to the main strip of vineyards
- altitude & greater exposure to winds gives them a cooler climate
- slightly less body & concentration
where is Côte Chalonnaise?
to the south of the Côte d’Or
main grapes in Côte Chalonnaise
- Chardonnay
- PN
- geography of Côte Chalonnaise compared to Côte d’Or
- how does this affect the grapes & wines?
- more/less prestigious than Côte d’Or?
- higher altitude of the vineyards
- aspect is less consistently towards the east
(but still on hillside) - harvest is later & ripening less reliable
- lighter & tend to mature earlier
- LESS prestigious
4 village appellations in the Côte Chalonnaise
& short info regarding wines there
- each have premier cru vineyards but no grands crus
Rully
- produces more white wine than red
- important centre for the production of sparkling wine
Mercurey
- the village on Côte Chalonnaise whose red wines enjoy the highest reputation
Givry
- whose reds are particularly admired
- the smallest of the village appellations
Montagny
- produces only white wines
Where is Rully, and what wines are made there?
- in Côte Chalonnaise
- more white wine than red
- also an important centre for production of sparkling wine
- have premier cru but no grands crus
Where is Mercurey, and what wines are made there?
- in Côte Chalonnaise
- reds with the highest reputation in CC
- also make white (står ikke i boken)
- have premier cru but no grands crus
Where is Givry, and what wines are made there?
- in Côte Chalonnaise
- reds particularly admired
- also make white (står ikke i boken)
- have premier cru but no grands crus
Where is Montagny, and what wines are made there?
- in Côte Chalonnaise
- produces only white wines
- have premier cru but no grands crus
Bourgogne Côte Chalonnaise
- applies to all wines made on the Côte Chalonnaise from PN for red, & Chardonnay for white.
- regional appellation
where is Mâconnais?
between Côte Chalonnaise & Beaujolais
the most widely planted grape of the Mâconnais
Chardonnay
- Red or white wines in Mâconnais?
- Which grape(s)?
Both
- Chardonnay is the most widely planted grape
- Reds tend to be made of Gamay
- Some PN is still grown
appellations in Mâconnais (4)
- Mâcon (regional)
- Mâcon Villages
or Mâcon [specific village] –> ie. Mâcon Lugny - Pouilly-Fuissé (village appellation)
- Saint-Véran (village appellation)
what is the local regional appellation in Mâconnais?
Mâcon
red or white in Mâcon?
red or white
characteristics of white Mâcon
- good balance
- fresh apple or citrus fruit
- medium acidity
- medium to full body
- may be a hint of creaminess from MLF
characteristics of red Mâcon
tend to be light & fruity & made for early drinking
Mâcon vs Mâcon Villages
Mâcon: red or white
Mâcon Villages or Mâcon followed by a particular village:
- white wines that generally represent excellent value for money
- generally similar in style to white Mâcon, but tend to display more ripeness, body & character
the 2 most famous village appellations in Mâconnais
- Pouilly-Fuissé
- Saint-Véran
characteristics of the wines from Pouilly-Fuissé & Saint-Véran
best:
- ripe notes of tropical & stone fruits
- most are matured for a period of time in barrel
(to enhance texture & add flavours)
- some of the richest & ripest Chardonnays in Burgundy, often complemented by toasty oak flavours
soil and slopes of Pouilly-Fuissé & Saint-Véran
- limestone slopes of the Roche de Solutré
- east & south-east exposures
- amphitheatre-like slopes (act as natural suntraps)
natural suntraps in Burgundy
amphitheatre-like slopes of Pouilly-Fuissé & Saint-Véran in Mâconnais
