Bourgogne Flashcards
What is the climate of Burgundy?
The overall climate is Continental.
It ranges from:
cool Continental in north (Chablis) moderate Continental in south (Chalonnaise + Mâconnais)
What are the main grape varieties of Burgundy?
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir.
Gamay, Aligoté
What is the profile of a classic Aligoté from Burgundy?
Aligoté tends to be neutral and crisp with high acidity, and not overtly aromatic.
What 3 climatic hazards does Burgundy experience?
Rain around flowering and harvest (which can cause rot)
Springtime frost
Late summer hail storms
Which Burgundian grape is particularly susceptible to grey rot?
Pinot Noir
Which grape accounts for about half the total planted vineyard area in Burgundy: Chardonnay or Pinot Noir?
Chardonnay
Pinot Noir covers only about 1/3 of the total planted vineyard area.
If you were to describe a Pinot Noir from Burgundy quickly, what are some descriptors you’d use?
Red fruit
Mushroom
Earth
High acidity
Low-to-medium tannins
What are the 2 subregions of the Côte d’Or?
Côte de Nuits
Côte de Beaune
Where are village-level vineyards located?
Village wines are found mostly on flat land or at the bottom of slopes.
Where on the slopes are most Premier Cru vineyards in Burgundy located?
Premier Cru vineyards are mostly located mid-slope, with some just above and just below mid-slope
Where on the slopes are most Grand Cru vineyards in Burgundy located?
Which direction do they face?
Most Grand Crus are found mid-slope with east-to-southeast exposure.
Exposure and soil variation are at their best mid-slope, where grapes are less prone to frost, see longer sunlight hours, have better drainage and protection from westerly winds.
Is the following wine from a single 1er Cru or is it a blend of 1er Cru vineyards?
It is a blend of 1er Cru vineyards.
This wine is sourced from two or more 1er Cru vineyards within the same village, in this case Gevrey-Chambertin.
However, when a vineyard name is on the label it must be solely produced from that precise vineyard, e.g. Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Les Cazetiers.
What are the main regions (areas of production) in Burgundy?
From north to south:
Chablis
Côte d’Or: Côte de Nuits/Côte de Beaune
Côte Chalonnaise
Mâconnais
Beaujolais (technically part of Burgundy)
What is the only grape variety allowed in Chablis AOP?
Chardonnay
What is the main weather hazard in Chablis?
The main weather hazard in Chablis is frost.
Cold temperatures (under 0°C/32ºF) can freeze the fresh buds and burn the green raw material.
How do Chablis producers combat spring frost?
Sprinklers: water is sprayed over the vineyard to create a coating of ice around the fresh buds. This layer of ice prevents bud damage due to the latent heat of the ice; (see photo)
Heaters and smudge pots: small fires contained in clay or metal pots placed amongst the vines to prevent cold air from being trapped and freezing vine material.
Less important vineyards in Chablis are classified as _____.
Petit Chablis. These vineyards are in less favorable areas.
How is village level Chablis different from Chablis 1er Cru and Chablis Grand Cru in respect to exposure and location?
Village level Chablis vineyards usually face north and are located on flatter land;
Chablis 1er + Grand Cru vineyards usually face south and are located on hillsides.
How many Grand Crus are in Chablis?
One: Grand Cru Chablis, which is one single hill divided into 7 climats
Which Chablis classification is most likely going to see oak?
Chablis Grand Cru
Sometimes 1er Cru Chablis will see old oak, too, but village level Chablis will rarely see any oak at all.
What is the river that runs through the heart of Chablis?
The Serein River
What is the northernmost appellation in Burgundy?
Chablis AOP
What are the 4 levels of classification in Burgundy?
REGIONAL
VILLAGE: quality wines, most often produced from a blend of plots within a single village.
1er CRU: higher quality wines produced from a specific climat/ site/ vineyard.
1er Crus are delineated because they have a particular soil, microclimate, slope inclination, and/or aspect. 1er Cru vineyards can be released as a single climat or they can be blended with other 1er Cru climats from the same village. In the case of the latter, the wine takes no vineyard name; just the village + 1er Cru.
GRAND CRU
What is a monopole?
A monopole is a vineyard plot entirely owned by a single grower.
The Massif Central runs along which side of the Côte d’Or: the east side or west side?
What does this provide the Côte d’Or?
West side
This allows the Côte d’Or to haveeast and southeast-facing hillside vineyards.
Generally speaking, Pinot Noirs from the Côte de Nuits tend to be ____ while Pinot Noirs from the Côte de Beaune tend to be ____.
CdNuits: full bodied, long lived
CdBeaune: fruitier than CdNuits, not as long lived
How many Grand Crus are in the Côte d’Or?
32
All red Grand Crus in Burgundy, except one, are made in the Côte de ____.
All white Grand Crus in Burgundy, except one, are made in the Côte de ____.
Côte de Nuits
Côte de Beaune
Is the Côte de Nuits the northern or southern part of the Côte d’Or?
Northern part of the Côte d’Or
List 4 important villages of the Côte de Nuits.
North to South:
Gevrey-Chambertin
Vougeot
Vosne-Romanée
Nuits-Saint-Georges
Name Gevrey-Chambertin’s 2 most famous Grand Crus.
Chambertin
Chambertin-Clos de Bèze
In what village is this vineyard located?
What is the classification level: Village, 1er Cru, or Grand Cru?
What are the requirements to achieve this classification?
This wine comes from the village Gevrey-Chambertin from the Grand Cru Chambertin vineyard.
Requirements for a wine to be Grand Cru:
- This wine must come from the single, stated plot on the label, in this case the Grand Cru Chambertin vineyard;
- Grand Crus have to have lower yields and higher minimum must weights compared to Village or 1er Cru
Name Vougeot’s most famous Grand Cru.
Clos de Vougeot
What is a Clos vineyard in Burgundy?
A clos is avineyard enclosed by walls.
Name Vosne-Romanée’s 3 most famous Grand Crus.
Romanée-Conti
La Romanée
La Tâche
Where is Nuits-Saint-Georges AOP located, and what is it best known for?
Nuits-Saint-Georges is the southern most village of the Côte-de-Nuits best known for its PinotNoir
Does Nuits-Saint-Georges have any Grand Crus?
No, Nuits-Saint-Georges does not have any Grand Crus
What are 7 key villages of the Côte de Beaune?
Which are known for red wines and which are known for white wines?
RED
Aloxe-Corton AOP
Beaune AOP
Pommard AOP
Volnay AOP
WHITE
Puligny-Montrachet AOP
Chassagne-Montrachet AOP
Meursault AOP
Name Aloxe-Corton’s 2 famous Grand Crus.
Corton
Corton-Charlemagne
Name Puligny-Montrachet’s and Chassagne-Montrachet’s most famous Grand Cru
Montrachet
Most Pinot Noirs from Burgundy are aged in what type of vessel?
What is the typical barrel aging period?
228LFrench oak barrels, often a portion of them new.
16-18 months in barrel is the norm.
What is the typical barrel aging period for white Burgundy?
6-9 months.
What is premature oxidation?
In the early aughts, many white Burgundy wines started aging faster than normal and no one was or has been able to explain why it happened.
It continues to be an issue.
How do Chardonnays from Puligny-Montrachet differ from those produced in either Chassagne-Montrachet or Meursault?
Puligny-Montrachet wines are electric with bright, sharp acidity and a strong, racyminerality;
Meursault wines by contrast are about opulence and richness, with a round fruitycharacter;
The wines of Chassagne-Montrachet are mostly balanced between those two styles. Some richness and power here, but with a great freshness, minerality, and balance.
All these differences are created by terroir: the influence of the climate and the texture of the soil, although a given producer’s style will also influence the final wine
Meursault AOP does not have any Grand Cru vineyards.
True, Meursault has no Grand Crus.
Do Volnay and Pommard have any Grand Crus?
No, Pommard and Volnay do not have any Grand Cru vineyards.
The highest classified vineyards in Pommard and Volnay are 1er Crus.
What is the style of wine found in Pommard AOP and Volnay AOP?
Pinot Noir made in a still, dry style.
What is the main difference between Côte de Nuits-Villages AOC and Côte de Beaune-Villages AOC?
Côte de Nuits-Villages can bered or white.
Côtes de Beaune-Villages can bered only.
Stylistically, how are Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits and Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune different from Côte de Nuits-Villages and Côte de Beaune-Villages?
Bourgogne HCdNuits + Bourgogne HCd Beaune tend to belighter in body andlessconcentratedthan CdN-Villages and CdB-Villages.
This is primarily because the vineyards designated as Hautes-Côtes are planted at higher elevation, where the temperature is cooler and the vines are more exposed to wind.
Where is the Côte Châlonnaise? Is harvest in Côte Chalonnaise before or after the Côte d’Or’s?
Directly south of the Côte de Beaune.
AFTER because Chalonnaise is higher in altitude, which produces wines lighter in style than the Côte d’Or.
Wines from Chalonnaise also mature earlier than wines from the Côte d’Or.
Name the main villages of the Côte Chalonnaise
From north to south:
Rully
Mercurey
Givry
Montagny
Is Rully AOP better known for its white or red wines?
Whites, but it does make some reds.
Rully has been a key production area of Crémant de Bourgogne since 1822
Which AOP in Côte Chalonnaise produces white wine only?
Montagny
What is the regional AOP of the Côte Chalonnaise?
Bourgogne Côte Chalonnaise AOP
What are the AOPs in the Côte Châlonnaise best known for their production of red wines?
Mercurey AOP
Givry AOP
Wines from the Côte Châlonnaise and Mâconnais tend to be more or less age-worthy than wines from the Côte de Beaune?
Less age-worthy, but that makes them great for early drinking.
Wine from Côte Châlonnaise and Mâconnais are usually more approachable and meant to be enjoyed in their youth, but can offer good value.
Chardonnays from Mâconnais and Côte Chalonnaise don’t express the same precision and minerality as Chardonnays from the Côte de Beaune.
What is the most widely planted grape variety in the Mâconnais?
Chardonnay
Why are Chardonnays from Mâconnais fuller and riper in style than those from the Côte de Beaune?
Mâconnais tends to be warmer and have a longer growing season than the Côte de Beaune; plus,many of its vineyards are shaped like amphitheaters (which trap heat) so the grapes achieve a higher level of ripeness
Why does the Mâconnais primarily make white wine?
Because of the soil type: it’s high in limestone-rich soils, which are very suitable for Chardonnay.
Chardonnay represents about 90% of the total plantings in the Mâconnais.
What styles of wine are produced under the Mâcon AOP?
Red and white wines
What is the only style allowed to be made in Mâcon Villages?
White wine only
Of the following regions, which one allows Gamay as one of its red grapes (in addition to Pinot Noir)?:
Côte d’Or
Côte Chalonnaise
Mâconnais
Mâconnais
Gamay here offers different expression from Beaujolais as the soils in Mâcon are predominantly limestone, not granite
What are 3 key appellations of the Mâconnais?
Which two are its most famous?
Saint-Véran AOP and Pouilly-Fuissé AOP (most famous)
Mâcon AOP/Mâcon-Villages AOP
During the aging process of white Burgundy, what are some techniques used to create more flavor and complexity?
Sur lie aging and bâtonnage.
Sur lie aging, or the aging of wine ‘on the lees,’ is when yeast cells fall to the bottom of the fermentation vessel after fermentation and begin to break down. After a few months of aging, the wine displays more body and texture, with deeper flavors.
Bâtonnage is the stirring of the lees from the bottom of the oak cask. Bâtonnage introduces oxygen to the lees which helps prevent off-odors, or reduction. It also increases the lees contact to add extra richness and roundness to the wine
What styles of wine are allowed in the new appellation Bourgogne Côte d’Or created in 2017?
Regulations require the exclusive use of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
The yields must be lower compared to wines labelled simply Bourgogne, which may contain grapes grown anywhere in the wider Burgundy area.
The appelation sits above regional Bourgogne appellation wines and just below village-level wines
List the 3 AOPs of Chablis.
Petit Chablis AOP
Chablis AOP
Chablis 1er Cru is within Chablis AOP
Chablis Grand Cru AOP
1 AOP separated into 7 Grand Cru plots
What is unique about the Chablis Grand Cru AOP?
The Chablis Grand Cru AOP covers all 7 Grand Cru plots under the same appellation of origin.
By contrast, every other Grand Cru vineyard in the Côte d’Or is designated as its own AOP.
What is the main soil type in Chablis?
Kimmeridgian limestone
What is the sole AOP in Burgundy to allow Sauvignon Blanc?
Saint-Bris AOP
Saint-Bris is in Yonne, near Chablis.
Name all 7 Grand Cru vineyards of Chablis Grand Cru AOP.
From west to east:
Bougros Les Preuses Vaudésir Grenouilles Valmur Les Clos Blanchot
Who first planted vines in Burgundy?
Romans first introduced vines to the region in the 1st century A.D.
What is Napoleonic Code and how does it affect Burgundy?
Prior to the 18th century land in France was owned by the nobility and the Catholic church;
During the French Revolution in 1789, lands were taken away from the Church and divided among local farmers and tradesmen;
Napoleonic Code, written in the 1800s, required lands to be divided equally between all heirs;
Today, landowners continue to divvy up their properties equally amongst all their children; hence Burgundy’s fragmented ownership.
Define what a négociant is in Burgundy.
A négociant in Burgundy is a producer who:
purchases grapes, juice, or finished wine from grape growers to supplement their own production; from these purchases, they are capable of producing larger quantities at more affordable prices.
Most négociants are based in the city of Beaune. Some négociants own land and purchase additional grapes as a supplement; others do not and simply blend finished wine or make wine from purchased grapes.
Name some famous négociants in Burgundy.
Bouchard Père et Fils
Louis Latour
Louis Jadot
Joseph Drouhin
Chanson
Boisset
Faiveley
In Burgundy, what are the two AOPs produced from Aligoté?
Bourgogne Aligoté AOP
Bouzeron AOP
Where is Chassagne-Montrachet AOP, and what styles of wine does it produce?
Chassagne-Montrachet is in the Côte de Beaune.
Chassagne-Montrachet makes primarily still, dry white wines from Chardonnay and some red wines from Pinot Noir.
What are the 5 Grand Crus located in the villages of Chassagne-Montrachet and Puligny-Montrachet?
(Le) Montrachet Grand Cru AOP
Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru AOP
Bienvenue-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru AOP
Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru AOP
Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru AOP
Where is Meursault AOP, and what styles of wine does it produce?
Meursault is in the Côte de Beaune.
Meursault is best known for its still, dry, white wine made from Chardonnay, but some dry red wines are also produced here.
Which wine is most likely to be fat and full in body with buttery characteristics?:
Chassagne-Montrachet Puligny-Montrachet Meursault
Meursault AOP
There are some pundits who say that it’s Meursault’s soils, which are lower in humidity due to a lower water table, which help attribute that fatness.
What is the Hospices de Beaune?
Historically, the Hospices de Beaune (also known as Hôtel-Dieu) was a charity hospital for the sick and poor founded in 1443 by Chancellor Nicolas Rolin.
Having been bequeathed vineyards over the centuries, the Hospices de Beaune is one of the largest landholders (58ha) in the Côte de Beaune. It began auctioning its wines in 1859 to cover the costs of patient care.
Now a museum, the Hospices de Beaune holds a charity auction to cover building renovations and general upkeep.
Which river created the formal topography of Burgundy?
The Saône River
What wines are produced in Aloxe-Corton AOP ?
Both red and white wines are produced in Aloxe-Corton, but it is better known for its reds than its whites.
The soil in Aloxe is rich in iron which makes sturdy, structured Pinot Noirs.
Corton Grand Cru can produce which of the following:
only white wine only red wine either white or red
Either white or red, although the majority of production is red wine.
What villages share Corton Grand Cru AOP?
Aloxe-Corton
Pernand-Vergelesses
Ladoix-Serrigny
Where is Chambolle-Musigny AOP located, and what style of wine does it produce?
Chambolle-Musigny is in the Côte de Nuits.
Chambolle-Musigny produces only still, dry red wine.
Where is Morey-Saint-Denis AOP located, and what style of wine does it produce?
Morey-Saint-Denis is in the Côte de Nuits.
Morey-Saint-Denis is famous for its still, dry red wine from Pinot Noir, but some dry white wines are also produced here.
What are the main differences between a Burgundian Pinot Noir and a new world Pinot Noir?
Burgundy: Wines tend to have higher acidity, moderate alcohol, and tarter, red fruit flavors.
New world: Wines are usually fuller in body, have higher alcohol, and a riper fruit expression.
Which appellations in the Côte Châlonnaise make white wine only?
Montagny AOP - Chardonnay
Bouzeron AOP - Aligoté
In Burgundy, are Grand Cru vineyards ever blended with other Grand Crus?
Grand Crus in Burgundy are rarely ever blended together, although when it does happen the wine is declassified to the 1er Cru level, e.g. Domaine de la Romanée-Conti’s Cuvée Duvault Blochet.
Only 1er Crus are allowed to be blended with other 1er Crus and maintain their 1er Cru classification.
What is the largest Grand Cru in Burgundy?
Corton
What are the 2 Grand Crus of Chambolle-Musigny?
Musigny
Bonnes Mares
What are the Grand Crus of Morey-Saint-Denis?
Clos de la Roche
Clos Saint-Denis
Clos des Lambrays
Clos de Tart
There is a smidge of the Bonnes Mares Grand Cru in Chambolle that bleeds into Morey-Saint-Denis.
What styles of wine are produced under the Bourgogne Passe-Tout-Grains AOP?
What are the required grape varieties, and what are their minimum percentages?
Bourgogne Passe-Tout-Grains AOP makes only light red or rosé wines.
Blending Regulation:
Minimum 30% Pinot Noir Minimum 15% Gamay
What is the primary style of wine produced in Puligny-Montrachet AOP?
Still, dry, white wines made from Chardonnay.
