Bourgogne Flashcards
How diverse are the soils of Bourgorgne?
There are 45 million years of geological history represented in this region in soils on and around escarpments, coombs, colluviums, fault lines and bioherms.
What variables influence how grape varieties like Chardonnay & Pinot Noir express themselves?
- where they are grown: sub-region, village, vineyard parcel
- soil type
- position on slope
- slope aspect
- producer
- vintage year
How many village wines are there in Bourgorgne?
44
How many Grands Crus are in Bourgorgne?
33
How many Premier Crus in Bourgorgne?
662
Why is it said that finding great Bourgorgne is a treasure hunt?
- plethora of climats
- vintages vary widely in quality
- dozens of producers can farm a single vineyard (80 for Clos de Vougeot)
- buying Grand Cru does not guarantee Grand Cru quality in bottle
- best bottles are increasingly hard to find
- prices have skyrocketed
What are some of the more affordable Bourgogne bottlings?
- regional (some of which may legally contain fruit from Beaujolais)
- village-level
- some Premiers Crus
Which French wine region has the most AOCs?
Bourgogne
How many AOCs are in Bourgogne?
84
(consolidated from 100 in 2017)
What percentage of wine production in Bourgogne is red, white, or cremant?
- 60% White (flipped from 60% red in 1986)
- 29% Red
- 11% Cremant
How many co-operatives, negociants & estate producers are there in Bourgogne?
- 16 Co-operatives
- 266 Negociants
- 3,577 Estate Producers
How much wine is produced in Bourgogne annually?
15.5 million cases
How does wine production in Bourgogne compare to wine revenue across France?
Bourgogne represents:
* 4.5% of French wine production
* 21% of French wine revenue
Where is Bourgogne located?
In the eastern section of France. Paris is 2 hours to the northwest and Lyon is one hour to the south. It lies along the Autoroute du Sud (Highway to the South) linking northern France to Lyon and points south.
Bourgogne belongs to which region and departements?
Region:
* Bourgogne-Franche-Comte
Departements (administrative):
* Yonne
* Cote d’Or
* Saone-et-Loire
What is the climate in Bourgogne?
Continental
What topographical features influence the climate in Bourgogne?
- Oceanic influences in the north
- Mediterranean influences in the south
How does the broad expanse of Bourgogne influence the difference in temperature across the region?
This region extends almost 140mi/224km from north to south, creating significant temperature variations.
* Bud break starts a week earlier in warmer Maconnais than in cooler Chablis
* Harvest comes early September for Maconnais
* Harvest takes place at the end of September for Chablis
What threats do the vineyards of Bourgogne face?
- Spring frosts
- Summer hailstorms
What geological formation is Bourgogne situated atop of?
The edge of the Paris Basin.
Describe the layers of soils in Bourgogne.
It is a pile of elliptical serving plates that stack in the middle of France from smallest to largest, from youngest to oldest, working from the top down. Each plate represents a layer of soil that formed during a specific geological epoch.
* Bottom plate is a granite massif that surfaces in Beaujolais
* Resting on top are sedimentary in nature: limestone & marls formed over millions of years beneath a warm & shallow sea
* The oldest marine deposits are located in the south in Maconnais
* The youngest marine deposits are to the north in Chablis
Describe the geological creation of the Bourgogne region.
During the last period of continental upheaval in Europe, the Alps rose and the Bresse Plain sank, forming a graben or geological trough/depression whose uplifts include the Morvan uplands (northeastern extension of the Massif Central), the Cote d’Or escarpments and the foothills of the Jura Mountains.
This trough was not carved by water, despite the Saone River running through it.
The graben possesses colluvial soils, soils formed from rain-driven slope wash, rather than alluvial soils formed from river sediment.
How did the geological period of continental upheaval alter the Bourgogne region?
It left eight fault lines running through the Cote d’Or. These fault lines are locations where the earth moved up, down, left & right. The chronological layers of sedimentary deposits shifted. This shuffling, coupled with erosion and slope wash resulted in a juxtaposition of soils of varying ages and markedly different natures.
Where are the vineyards of Bourgogne planted?
- most are on slopes
- crests of the Cote d’Or escarpment have vines interspersed midst the forests, dedicated to the production of: Hautes Cotes de Beaune & Hautes Cotes de Nuits
Describe the soils found on the top of the slopes in Bourgogne.
The thinnest topsoil is found here, which retains the least amount of precipitation. The soils can be of good quality, but the steepness of the slope results in rain running downhill before it can be fully absorbed.
What vines are typically grown on the tops of the slopes in Bourgogne?
Premier Crus
Describe the soils found on the middle of the slopes in Bourgogne.
There is a moderate amount of topsoil which receives an adequate amount of water.
It also captures maximum sunlight.
What vines are typically planted on the mid-slope in Bourgogne?
Grand Cru vineyards mostly.
Describe the soils at the bottom of the slope in Bourgogne.
These are the deepest soils, which retain the most amount of water.
Which vines are planted at the bottom of the slope in Bourgogne?
Village AOCs
How does faulting influence soil variation in Bourgogne?
- Neighboring vineyard sites can consist of very different soil types
- there can be variation within a single vineyard site
For example: Clos de Vougeot possesses 13 climats. There are both variations in soil & in slope gradient within this Grand Cru.
What soil types does Pinot Noir prefer?
- Limestone
- Marl with high limestone content
These soils give lightly pigmented but sublimely elegant wines.
What soil type does Chardonnay prefer?
- Marl
To deliver powerfully dense, age-worthy whites with tremendous concentration of flavor.
What types of marl are preferred in Chablis?
Kimmeridgean marl; it is considered superior to Portlandian marl.
Name the white grape varieties of Bourgogne.
- Chardonnay
- Aligote
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Pinot Blanc
- Sacy
- Melon de Bourgogne
Which is the primary white grape of Bourgogne?
Chardonnay
It is the principal grape in all wines except for those of Saint-Bris, Bouzeron and Bourgogne Aligote.
Which is the second most important white grape in Bourgogne?
Aligote
It is the only variety in Bouzeron & Bourgogne Aligote.
Which is the primary grape variety of Saint-Bris?
Sauvignon Blanc
How is the Pinot Blanc variety used in Bourgogne?
- many regional appellations
- many village appellations
- some Grand Cru appellations
How is the Savy variety utilised in Bourgogne?
Cremant de Bourgogne
What wines is the Melon de Bourgogne permitted for use in Bourgogne?
- Coteaux Bourguignons
- Cremant de Bourgogne
Name the rose/gris grape varieties of Bourgogne.
- Pinot Gris (Pinot Beurot)
- Sauvignon Gris
Which wines is the Pinot Gris variety considered a primary variety?
- Marsannay rose
- Bourgogne rose
100% Pinot Gris is possible for these wines, although uncommon.
This variety is also authorized for use in white & red wines in any appellations up to prescibed limits, but is seldom used.
How is the Sauvignon Gris variety used in Bourgogne?
As a secondary variety for Saint-Bris.
Name the red grape varieties of Bourgogne.
- Pinot Noir
- Gamay
- Cesar
Which grape is the primary red variety of Bourgogne?
Pinot Noir
It is the principal (or only) variety in most of Bourgogne’s reds & typically forms the backbone of roses.
How is the Gamay variety used in Bourgogne?
In regional Bourgogne appellations & can be sourced from anywhere in Bourgogne or Beaujolais.
Fruit must be sourced from the 10 Beaujolais Crus.
Gamay joins Pinot Noir as a primary grape in Macon reds & roses.
Gamay is the sole red grape for reds & roses of a Macon which carries a DGC (denomination geographique complementaire).
How is the Cesar variety used in Bourgogne?
In regional wines from the departement of Yonne & Irancy AOC.
What farming methods are used in Bourgogne?
- Lutte raisonee (“reasoned fighting”): environmentally/financially responsible farming practices (most common)
- Organic: an increasing number of vignerons have adopted this (8.6% of vineyards in 2017 are organic or in conversion)
- Biodynamic: a number of noted producers have converted to this method (including Domaine de la Romanee-Conti & Domaine Leflaive
What harvesting methods are used in Bourgogne?
Machine harvesting:
* extensively used in Chablis
* & Maconnais
* Cote Chalonnaise (both methods)
Handpicking:
* dominates the Cote d’Or
* Cote Chalonnaise (both)
What vine training method is used in Bourgogne?
Guyot is most common
Cordon is growing in popularity.
How has climate change influence the vine in Bourgogne?
- Bud break starts earlier
- Harvest has moved forward by 10 days
- vine-damaging hailstorms & frosts are increasingly problematic
(compared to 20 years ago)
How did Bourgogne save the region from catastrophic frost damage in 2017?
A collective lighting of straw fires to produce smoke in the vineyards just before dawn.
How did Bourgogne reduce damage from hailstorms in 2017?
The region completed a “hail shield” which gave protection to 100,000 ac/40,500ha through a network of hail cannons. When 40% chance of hail is forecast, the cannons seed clouds with silver oxide pellets, leading to less damaging hailstones.
What challenge do vignerons face in regards to ripening grapes?
- Traditionally, it was not always easy for grapes to ripen fully
- Now, the challenge is to delay harvest so that sugar and phenolic ripening happen together while retaining natural acidity
What vessels are used in the white winemaking process in Bourgogne?
Fermentation occurs in either stainless steel or 228L barrels
Most Maconnais & Chablis are:
* fermented in stainless steel
* matured in stainless steel, concrete or neutral oak vats
Oak maturation is common for wines hailing from:
* Cote d’Or
* Cote Chalonnaise (village level or higher)
New oak barrels are typically 20-50% of the barrel regimen.
What is premox?
Premature oxidation: a situation in which white Bourgogne ages too quickly or becomes completely oxidized.
This is still a problem in Bourgogne.
What causes premox?
The cause is not completely understood, but current thinking is that it stems from:
* certain clones
* fully ripe fruit
* less use of sulfur
* less batonnage (the process of lees stirring in wine to better integrate flavours often created by malolactic conversion)
Problems are diminishing in Bourgogne as a consequence of actions taken on these fronts.
How do the Chardonnays of Bourgogne compare to those from warmer, sunner climates?
- less fruit
- less alcohol
- less aroma
- less overt oak
- more structure (acid)
- more mineral notes
How are red wines vinified in Bourgogne?
- Pinot Noir clusters are typically de-stemmed
- some producers are now adding whole clusters to the fermentation tank, facilitating brighter flavors
- Many small producers still use indigenous yeasts
- Large negociants often select commercial yeasts
What are negociants?
These are companies that purchase grapes or wine from growers who are too small, or do not have the inclination, to bottle & market their own wine. They possess different levels of talent.
Today, many negociants are also growers and growers have become negociants.
Are necociant wines inherently inferior to domaine bottlings?
No. More often than not, the negociant has the capital to purchase new equipment, barrels and tanks in order to increase the quality of their bottlings
What is a mico-negociant?
This is an enterprise, akin to negociant, that works on a much smaller scale. They typically focus on individual sites or appellations and produce terroir-base, high-end micro-cuvees.
What is the average individual vineyard holding in Bourgogne?
16.1ac/6.51ha (as of 2019)
Why is it difficult to produce proprietary labels in Bourgogne?
- small size of the average vineyard holding
- vineyard holdings are rarely contiguous
Note: A small producer could make many wines under many appellations, none of which would be in a sufficient quantity to make it worthwhile.
How many domaines, co-operatives, and negociants are there in Bourgogne?
- 3,577 Domaines
- 16 Co-operatives
- 266 Negociants (wine merchants)
Note: as of 2019
What percentage of wine produced in Bourgogne is sold through negociants?
52%
How has climate change influenced the fermentation method in Bourgogne?
Traditionally, open-top fermenters and the punch-down method were used to release pigments and tannins.
Now, with increasing grape maturity (ripeness?), many are switching to pump-over methods of extraction and shorter maceration times.
Which wines in Bourgogne normally undergo oak aging?
Most classified red wines of the Cote d’Or & Cote Chalonnaise will spend 12-18 months in barrel with some level of new oak, depending on the quality of the grapes and the appellation.
How does Bourgogne Pinot Noir compare that that from warmer, sunnier growing areas?
- less pigment
- less tannin
- less fruit
- less alcohol
- less over oak
- more structure
- more spice elements
Small amounts of rose are produced in Bourgogne under which appellations?
- the regional AOC
- Marsannay AOC
How is sparkling wine produced in Bourgogne
Traditional method as:
* Cremant de Bourgogne
* Bourgogne Mousseux
