Bourgogne AOCs -Cote de Beaune

Question 1

Where is the Côte de Beaune located? What is the climate?

Answer 1

It is the southern part of the Côte d’Or. It stretches from Ladoix-Serrigny to Maranges and is 15 1/2(25 km) miles long on the slopes of an escarpment. Climate is continental.

Question 2

What is the elevation and aspect of the slopes in Côte de Beaune vineyards?

Answer 2

Around 720-1150 ft/220-350mtrs. They are generally SE facing. The escarpment is more broken and less consistent than the Côte de Nuits.

Question 3

Which vineyards are on the plateau at the top of the Cote de Beaune escarpment?

Answer 3

Hautes Côte de Beaune producing Bourgogne Hautes Côte de Beaune wines. THIS IS A DGC within Bourgogne AOC.

Question 4

What are the soil types of Côte de Beaune?

Answer 4

Two types:
Heavier more clay-like LIMESTONE-RICH MARL soil in much of the Côte de Beaune which suits RED WINES;
Lighter less clay-like LIMESTONE soils which suit WHITE WINES - they dominate in MERSAULT, PULIGNY AND CHASSAGNE.
The soils are slightly younger than Côte de Nuits soils at 160-150 mya.

Question 5

How do reds from Côte de Beaune differ from Côte de Nuit reds?

Answer 5

They are generally a little lighter, elegant and full of finesse.
Bottlings with more depth and concentration come from Volnay, Pommard, Beaune and Aloxe-Corton.

Question 6

What is the style of whites from Côte de Beaune?

Answer 6

Styles vary from rich and intense to taut and fresh depending on soil and topography.

Question 7

What is red/white production in Côte de Beaune?

Answer 7

Two thirds red, one third white.

Question 8

Name the 8 Grand Cru of Côte de Beaune.

Answer 8

Corton, Corton-Charlemagne, Charlemagne, Montrachet, Chevalier-Montrachet, Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet, Batard-Montrachet, Criots-Batard-Montrachet.

Question 9

Name the AOCs of Côte de Beaune.

Answer 9

Ladoix-Serrigny, Aloxe-Corton, Pernand-Vergelesses, Chorey-lés-Beaune, Savigny-lés-Beaune, Beaune, Côte de Beaune, Pommard, Volnay, Monthélie, Saint-Romain, Auxey-Duresses, Saint-Aubin, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet, Blagny, Santenay, Maranges, Côte de Beaune-Villages

Question 10

Which villages in Côte de Beaune have Grand Cru vineyards?

Answer 10

Ladoix - 2 ( both shared);
Aloxe-Corton - 3 (all shared);
Pernand-Vergelesses - 3 (all shared);
Puligny-Montrachet - 4 (2 shared);
Chassagne-Montrachet - 3 (2 shared).
Total = 8

Question 11

Which grape varieties are permitted in Côte de Beaune-Village AOCs?

Answer 11

Exclusively Red (P) Pinot Noir.

Question 12

What is the famous hill in Côte de Beaune?

Answer 12

The hill of Corton in the north of the sub-region. Its vineyards are shared between Aloxe-Corton, Pernand-Vergelesses (all three), and Ladoix-Serrigny( two only).

Question 13

What are the GC vineyards on the hill of Corton? What style do they produce?

Answer 13

GC Corton - mainly red with some white;
GC Corton-Charlemagne - white only;
GC Charlemagne - white only.
GC Charlemagne is rarely used as it is a sub-zone of Corton-Charlemagne and is entitled to that more famous AOC label.

Question 14

When was Aloxe-Corton AOC awarded? For which style? Which grapes?

Answer 14

Awarded 1936 for dry white and red.
White (P or S) - Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc;
Gris/Rosé (S);
Red (P).Pinot Noir.
3 GC and 14 PC.

Question 15

Which GC are shared by Aloxe-Corton?

Answer 15

73% of it vineyards are in GC Corton and GC Corton-Charlemagne. It also shares GC Charlemagne with Pernand-Vergelesses.

Question 16

When was Ladoix AOC awarded? For which style? Which grapes?

Answer 16

Awarded 1937 for dry white and red.
White (P or S) - Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc;
Gris/Rosé (S);
Red (P).Pinot Noir.
2 GC and 11PC.
It is entitled to label under Ladoix AOC but sells most of its wine as Côte de Beaune-Villages AOC.

Question 17

Which GC are shared by Ladoix-Serrigny?

Answer 17

A quarter of its vineyards area lies within GC Corton and a small portion in GC Corton-Charlemagne which it shares with Aloxe-Corton and Pernand-Vergelesses.

Question 18

When was Pernand-Vergelesses AOC awarded? For which style? Which grapes?

Answer 18

Awarded 1936 for dry white and red.
White (P or S) - Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc;
Gris/Rosé (S);
Red (P).Pinot Noir.
3 GC (shared) and 8 PC.

Question 19

How many appellations are there around Beaune?

Answer 19

There are 4 AOCs:
Chorey-lés-Beaune AOC;
Savigny-lés-Beaune AOC;
Beaune AOC;
Côte de Beaune AOC.

Question 20

When was Chorey-lés-Beaune AOC awarded? For which style? Which grapes? How is it labelled?

Answer 20

Awarded 1937 for dry white and red.
White (P or S) - Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc;
Gris/Rosé (S);
Red (P).Pinot Noir.
0 GC and 0 PC.
Mainly bottled as Côte de Beaune-Village

Question 21

Describe Chorey-lés-Beaune AOC.

Answer 21

It lies on flat plains to the north of Beaune. It has a top dressing of alluvial limestone scree from the River Rhoin which increases its potential.

Question 22

When was Savigny-lés-Beaune AOC awarded? For which style? Which grapes?

Answer 22

Awarded 1937 for dry white and red.
White (P or S) - Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc;
Gris/Rosé (S);
Red (P).Pinot Noir.
0 GC and 22 PC.
Mainly red production.

Question 23

Describe Savigny-lés-Beaune AOC.

Answer 23

Its vineyards are bisected by the Rhoin River and produce two different styles depending on aspect. Wines from the south facing slopes are structured and generous, whereas those from the north-facing slopes of Bois-de-Noel are elegant and finer. Twelve of the PC lie on the Bois-de-Noel.

Question 24

When was Beaune AOC awarded? For which style? Which grapes? Where are the vineyards located?

Answer 24

Awarded 1936 for dry white and red.
White (P or S) - Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc;
Gris/Rosé (S);
Red (P).Pinot Noir.
0 GC and 42 PC.
Mainly red production. 75% is 1er Cru level.
Most of the vineyards are found on a large contiguous SE-facing slope to the west of town.

Question 25

Why is Beaune an important commercial centre?

Answer 25

It is home to the Hospice de Beaune and many major negociants.

Question 26

When was Côte de Beaune AOC awarded? For which style? Which grapes? Where are the vineyards located?

Answer 26

Awarded 1937 for dry white and red.
White (P or S) - Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc;
Gris/Rosé (S);
Red (P).Pinot Noir.
0 GC and 0 PC.
Split evenly red and white production.
Most of the vineyards are found on higher elevation slopes around the town. Not to be confused with Côte de Beaune-Villages or Hautes Côtes de Beaune

Question 27

When was Pommard AOC awarded? For which style? Which grapes?

Answer 27

Awarded 1936 for red only.
White (P or S) - Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc;
Gris/Rosé (S);
Red (P).Pinot Noir.
0 GC and 28PC.

Question 28

What makes the terroir of Pommard unique within Côte de Beaune?

Answer 28

It has a high concentration of clay and active limestone (high lime content) which is more similar to that of Côte de Nuit. It improves soil structure and drainage and gives the vine more access to nutrients. It produces powerful robust wines.

Question 29

When was Volnay AOC awarded? For which style? Which grapes?

Answer 29

Awarded 1937 for red only.
White (P or S) - Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc;
Gris/Rosé (S);
Red (P).Pinot Noir.
0 GC and 29 PC.

Question 30

How does Volnay soils differ from those of Pommard? How does this affect the wines?

Answer 30

It has less clay and more chalk, giving, generally, aromatic, soft, supple and silky wines. More tannic examples can be found near the border with Pommard.
Volnay wines have been recorded and sought after since the 1300’s

Question 31

When was Monthélie AOC awarded? For which style? Which grapes?

Answer 31

Awarded 1937 for dry white and red. (Mainly red).
White (P or S) - Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc;
Gris/Rosé (S);
Red (P).Pinot Noir.
0 GC and 15 PC.

Question 32

Where is Monthélie AOC located and why was it overlooked historically.

Answer 32

Surrounded by Volnay, Meursault and Saint-Romain has been historically overlooked because it was mainly planted to Gamay in the 19th century. Occupies prime real-estate.

Question 33

When was Saint-Romain AOC awarded? For which style? Which grapes?

Answer 33

Awarded 1947 for dry white and red .
White (P) - Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc;
Gris/Rosé (S);
Red (P).Pinot Noir.
0 GC and 0 PC.
Split 1/3 red and 2/3 white

Question 34

Describe Saint-Romain AOC.

Answer 34

Set back away from the main Côte in a side valley at high elevation no exposure to south or east. Results in whites with piercing acidity similar to young Chablis.
It is the smallest wine producing village of the Côte.

Question 35

When was Auxey-Duresses AOC awarded? For which style? Which grapes?

Answer 35

Awarded 1937 for dry white and red .
White (P or S) - Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc;
Gris/Rosé (S);
Red (P).Pinot Noir.
0 GC and 9 PC.
Split 2/3 red and 1/3 white

Question 36

Why does Auxey-Duresses lack fame?

Answer 36

It is located away from the main Côte. Prior to the AOC system it’s wine was marketed as Volnay, Meursault or Pommard.

Question 37

Which is the largest wine-producing village in the Côte d’Or?

Answer 37

Meursault with over 120 producers.

Question 38

When was Meursault AOC awarded? For which style? Which grapes?

Answer 38

Awarded 1937 for dry white and red .
White (P or S) - Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc;
Gris/Rosé (S);
Red (P).Pinot Noir.
0 GC and 19 PC.
Split 97% white - 1/4 PC level 3/4 Village level

Question 39

How many Grand Cru vineyards on the hill of Montrachet?

Answer 39

Total of 5:
Le Montrachet (shared);
Batard-Montrachet (shared);
Bienvenue-Batard-Montrachet;
Chevalier-Montrachet;
Criots-Batard-Montrachet.

Question 40

How are the vineyards on Montrachet shared?

Answer 40

Puligny-Montrachet:
Chevalier-Montrachet and Bienvenue-Batard-Montrachet;
Chassagne-Montrachet:
Criots-Batard-Montrachet
Shared:
Le Montrachet and Batard-Montrachet.

Question 41

What is Puligny-Montrachet AOC claim to fame?

Answer 41

It possesses most of the Montrachet hill and also has more white-only Grand Crus than any other village in Bourgogne.

Question 42

When was Puligny-Montrachet AOC awarded? For which style? Which grapes?

Answer 42

Awarded 1937 for dry white and red .
White (P or S) - Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc;
Gris/Rosé (S);
Red (P).Pinot Noir.
4 GC (2 shared) and 17 PC

Question 43

When was Chassagne-Montrachet AOC awarded? For which style? Which grapes?

Answer 43

Awarded 1937 for dry white and red .
White (P or S) - Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc;
Gris/Rosé (S);
Red (P).Pinot Noir.
3 GC (2 shared) and 55 PC
66% white, 33% red.

Question 44

When was Blagny AOC awarded? For which style? Which grapes?

Answer 44

Awarded 1937 for red only.
White (S) - Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc;
Gris/Rosé (S);
Red (P).Pinot Noir.
0 GC (2 shared) and 7 PC

Question 45

Although Blagny AOC only makes red wines it also has white wine. How are these labelled?

Answer 45

Because Blagny straddles both Meursault and Puligny-Montrachet its village reds are labelled Blagny. Depending on where its grapes are grown, its white wines are labelled as Meursault-Blagny, Meursault or Puligny-Montrachet.

Question 46

When was Santenay AOC awarded? For which style? Which grapes?

Answer 46

Awarded 1936 for dry white and red.
White (P or S) - Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc;
Gris/Rosé (S);
Red (P).Pinot Noir.
0 GC and 12 PC
Produces mainly red due to fertile soils. Yield managed by cordon pruning.

Question 47

When was Maranges AOC awarded? For which style? Which grapes?

Answer 47

Awarded 1989 for dry white and red.
White (P or S) - Chardonnay, (Pinot Blanc not permitted);
Gris/Rosé (S);
Red (P).Pinot Noir.
0 GC and 7 PC
Southern most appellation of the Côte de Beaune. Almost entirely red production.

Question 48

When was Côte de Beaune-Villages AOC awarded? For which style? Which grapes?

Answer 48

Awarded 1937 for red only.
White (P or S) - Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc;
Gris/Rosé (S);
Red (P).Pinot Noir.
0 GC and 0 PC
EXCLUSIVELY RED

Question 49

Which villages are not permitted to use the Côte de Beaune-Villages AOC labelling?

Answer 49

All villages can use it except for BEAUNE, ALOXE-CORTON, POMMARD AND VOLNAY.