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WSET Level 3 Notes > 15 - Burgundy > Flashcards

15 - Burgundy Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the climatic range of Burgundy

A

Cool Continental in the North to Moderate Continental in the South.

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2
Q

What weather hazards does Burgundy face and how can it affect growing?

A

Heavy rainfall can affect flowering in early summer and harvest later in the year.

Spring frosts are a hazard through to May in areas like Chablis.

Localised summer hailstorms are also a hazard that greatly affect yields.

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3
Q

Where are the best vineyards located in Burgundy? Why there?

What about village level sites?

A

Best sites (Premier Cru and Grand Crus) are mid-slope with easterly or south easterly facing aspects. This provides protection from prevailing Westerly winds.

Basic village level vineyards tend to be on flat sites or at the bottom of slopes.

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4
Q

What are the soils in Burgundy like?

Why are they like that?

A

Very varied.

A large number of geological faults along with gradual erosion mean the soil profile varies considerably over small area.

Soils on hillsides tend to be shallower with better drainage whilst those on the flat are deeper and more fertile.

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5
Q

What are the most popular grapes in Burgundy?

What are the supporting grapes?

A

Pinto Noir and Chardonnay.

Aligote and Gamay

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6
Q

What percentage of Burgundy is planted with Pinot Noir?

A

A third.

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7
Q

Where are the most important plantings of Pinot Noir in Burgundy?

A

Cote d’Or

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8
Q

Describe a classic Burgundian Pinot Noir

A

Red fruit flavours in youth, evolving to notes of earth, game and mushroom with age. High Acidity and low/med tannin. But can vary according to maker and vintage.

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9
Q

How much barrel ageing is normal for the best Burgundian Pinot Noirs?

A

16-18 months

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10
Q

How much new oak do the best Burgundian Pinot Noirs see?

A

A proportion will see new oak, but it varies according to producer.

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11
Q

What percentage of Burgundy does Chardonnay plantings account for?

A

Nearly Half.

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12
Q

What is the range of character of Burgundian Chardonnay?

A

Ranges:
Lean Steely, high acid in Chablis
Complex, expressive wines of Cote d’Or
Fuller bodied, riper fruited wines in Macon.

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13
Q

How much barrel ageing do Burgundian Chardonnay’s typically undergo?

A

6-9 months

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14
Q

What techniques did Burgundian winemakers pioneer, that are now associated with premium Chardonnay production worldwide?

A

Barrel Fermentation
Barrel Ageing
MLF for whites
The use of lees during maturation.

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15
Q

Where do some of the most expressive and sought after Burgundian Chardonnays come from?

A

Cote d’Or

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16
Q

What problem was discovered with Burgundian Chardonnay’s and what was deemed to be the problem?

A

About 15 years ago some premium Burgundian Chardonnays were showing signs of premature oxidation in bottle for their age.

No cause, whether vineyard or winery based, has been identified.

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17
Q

What style of wine does Aligote produce?

When does it produce it’s best wines?

Why are best versions of these wines rare?

A

Neutral wines with high-acidity.

When planted on sites that allow it to fully ripen.

The sites that suit is best are reserved for the more profitable Pinto Noir and Chardonnay plantings.

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18
Q

What style of wine does Gamay produce?

A

Early drinking wine with ripe berry fruit and low tannin.

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19
Q

Where is Gamay used in Burgundian wine?

A

Can be used for some regional appellations but only Pinot Noir is used for village-level or higher wines.

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20
Q

Where is Chablis located?

A

In the valley of the River Serein, in the northernmost part of Burgundy.

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21
Q

Where are the best vineyards of Chablis planted?

A

On slopes with favourable south facing aspects.

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22
Q

What is the major climatic hazard of Chablis?

What measure are used to avoid it?

A

Frosts

Sprinkler and Heaters

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23
Q

What is Petit Chablis?

A

The lesser classified vineyards of the region.

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24
Q

What grapes are allowed in Chablis?

A

ONLY Chardonnay

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25
Q

Where is basic village level Chablis usually grown?

Where are Premier and Grand Cru Chablis grown and what effect does that have on the wine?

A

North facing slopes and flatter land

South facing hillsides, giving greater concentration and ripeness.

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26
Q

What style of wines are made in Petit Chablis and Chablis?

A

Austere with green fruit and high acidity.

Better examples display riper fruit flavours.

27
Q

What styles of wine are made in Chablis Premier Cru and Chablis Grand Cru

A

Riper, more concentrated fruits than village level due to more favourable locations and aspects.

Citrus rather than green apple. More body, yet still balanced by high acidity.

28
Q

How do Premier Cru and Grand Cru Chablis producers ferment/age their wine?

A

Some ferment a portion of the wine in old oak producing a rounder texture and subtle flavours.

Others prefer to ferment and store in inert vessels to retain pure fruit flavours.

29
Q

What is the heartland of Burgundy

A

The Cote d’Or.

30
Q

Describe the location of Cote d’Or

A

The MAssif Central runs along the western limit of the Cote d’Or, providing favourable easterly and south-easterly facing vineyard locations.

31
Q

How do the wines of Cote de Nuits and Cote de Beaune differ?

A

The fullest bodied, longest lived Pinot Noirs are produced in the Cote de Nuits. Cate de Beaune Pinot Noirs tend to be in a fruitier style.

Cote de Beaune is more famous ofr producing Chardonnays.

32
Q

What’s notable about the Grand Crus of the Cote de Nuits and Cote de Beaune

A

All but one of the red Grand Crus are in the Cote de Nuits and All but one of the white Grand Crus are in Cote de Beaune.

33
Q

What are the key villages of the cote de Nuits from north to south and their grand cru sites?

A

Gevrey-Chambertin (Chambertin, Chambertin Clos de Beze)
Vougeot (Clos de Vougeot)
Vosne-Romanee (Romanee-Conti, La Tache, La Romanee)
Nuits-Saint-Georges

34
Q

What are the important villages and Grand Crus sites of Cote de Beaune?

A 
Aloxe-Corton (Corton, Corton-Charlemagne)
Beaune
Pommard
Volnay
Meursault
Montrachet (Montrachet)
35
Q

What are the 2 villages of the Cote d’Or that only produce wine of a single colour?

A

Pommard and Volnay

36
Q

Which 3 Cote d’Or villages have the highest reputation for white wine?

A

Meursault
Puligny-Montrachet
Chassagne-Montrachet

with the last 2 sharing the Grand Cru of Montrachet.

37
Q

What are Cote-de-Nuits Village wines?

A

Red or white.

Produced from wines that do not qualify for one of the more famous village appellations.

38
Q

What are Cote de Beaune Villages wines?

A

Must be red.

Can come from any one, or a combination of the villages on the Cote de Beaune. But there are exceptions.

39
Q

Describe the location and resulting wines of the Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Nuits and the Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Beaune

A

The are regional appellations, located to the west and at a higher altitude than the main strip of vineyards. The altitude and greater exposure to wind mean they have a cooler climate and produce wines that typically have less body and concentration.

40
Q

What are the grapes grown in the Cotes Chalonnaise?

A

Pinot Noir and Chardonnay also.

41
Q

What is the difference between the geography of the Cote Chalonnaise and the Cote d’Or?

How does this affect the resulting wines?

A

The Cote Chalonnaise is at a higher altitude, so the harvest is later and the wines ripen less reliably.

Although the vineyards are on slopes, their aspect is less consistently eastward.

The wines are lighter and tend to mature earlier. They’re seen as less prestigious than those of the Cote d’Or.

42
Q

What are the 4 village appellations of the Cote Chalonnaise and their products?

A

Rully: More white than red and an important centre for sparkling production.

Mercurey: Highest reputation reds on the Cote Chalonnaise.

Givry: Smallest Village Appelations. Red are particularly admired.

Montagny: Only white production.

43
Q

What is notable about the 4 village appellations on the Cote Chalonnaise.

A

Each village appellation has a premier cru vineyard, but not a grand cru vineyard.

44
Q

What is the regional appellation of the Cote Chalonnaise and what wines does it apply to?

A

Bourgogne Cote Chalonnaise

Applies to all wines made from Pinot Noir for red and Chardonnay for white.

45
Q

What is the most widely planted grape of the Maconniais?

A

Chardonnay

46
Q

What grape does Maconnais red wine tend to be made from?

A

Gamay, though some Pinot Noir is still grown.

47
Q

What types of wine can be labelled Macon?

A

Red of White

48
Q

Describe the character of better Maconnais white wines?

A

Good balance of fresh apple or citrus fruit.
Medium Acidity
medium to full body.
May be a hint of creaminess from MLF

49
Q

What style do the reds of Maconnais tend to be?

A

Light and fruity, made for early drinking.

50
Q

Where can the grapes for a wine labelled Macon village come from?

A

Any one or a combination of villages.

51
Q

How do the wines of Macon and Macon villages compare?

A

Macon Villages tends to be similar in style to macon but displays more ripeness, body and character.

52
Q

What are the 2 most famous village appellations in Maconnais?

What do the best wines from these village display?

Describe where they are planted?

A

Pouilly-Fuisse

Saint Veran

Best: Ripe notes of tropical and stone fruit. Most are matured for a period of time in barrel to enhance texture and add flavour.

On the limestone slopes of the Roche de Solutré with E and SE exposure. The amphitheatre like slopes act as sun traps and produce some of the richest and ripest Chardonnays in Burgundy, often complemented by toasty oak flavours.

53
Q

What percentage of Burgundy’s wine production is accounted for by regional appellations?

A

about 50%

54
Q

How is the hierarchy of burgundy appellations sorted?

A

In order of the quality of vineyard sites.

55
Q

Why are some Burgundian wines declassfied from a superior classification?

A

Due to excessive yields

Because a quality minded producer wants to preserve the prestige of an appellation by not including lower-quality wines.

56
Q

What are the most generic appellations of Bourgogne?

What grapes are usually used here?

A

Bourgogne Rouge and Bourgogne Blanc
Can come from anywhere in Bourgogne.

Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

57
Q

Give examples of the hierarchy of Burgundy Appellations

A

Generic: Bourgogne Rouge/Blanc
Regional: Bourgogne Houtes Cote de Nuits/Cotes de Beaune/ Cote Chalonnaise, Macon (Reds and Whites), Macon Villages (Whites Only)
Commune/Village Appellations: Chablis/Gevrey Chambertin
Premier Cru/Grand Cru:

58
Q

What percentage of total production do commune appellations account for in Burgundy.

A

About 1 third

59
Q

What is a monopole?

What is more commonly the case?

A

A vineyard area that is owned by a single owner.

Each vineyard is divided between a number of owners, each of which grows and harvests on their own parcel of land.

60
Q

How many Premier Crus are there between Chablis, Cote d’Or and Cote Chalonnaise and what percentage of the areas production do they account for?

A

Over 600

About 10%

61
Q

Why would a vineyards name appear alongside the Premier Cru label of a Burgundian bottle?

A

If all the grapes came from a single vineyard?

62
Q

What percentage of production do grand cru wines account for in Burgundy?

A

Less than 1%

63
Q

How many grand crus are there in Cote d’Or?

How many are there in Chablis?

How are they recognised on the label?

A

33

1

Only the name of the vineyard and “Grand Cru” appear on the label.

WSET Level 3 Notes (21 decks)

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