Burgandy Flashcards
Climate of Burgandy?
Cool continental in the North around Chablis and moderate continental further south
Flavours of classic Burgundian Pinot noir?
Red fruit flavours in youth that evolve into flavours of earth, game and mushroom as the wine matures.
High acidity and low to medium tannins
Winemaking and maturation of Pinot Noir in Burgandy?
The use of whole bunches has gradually become more popular.
For the best wines 16 to 18 months barrel ageing is normal.
The best wines will usually be aged in a proportion of new oak.
Chardonnay in Burgandy: facts, winemaking etc
Accounts for nearly half the total vineyard area.
Influenced premium Chardonnay winemaking practises around the world:
Barrel fermentation
Barrel ageing (6 to 9mnths)
Malolactic conversion
And the use of lees during maturation
Can mature in bottle for a decade or more
Issues in Burgandy
Rain can disrupt both flowering and harvest.
Pinot Noir is susceptible to grey rot and this can be a problem in wet growing seasons.
Spring Frosts effected (especially Chablis) and localised hail storms (can destroy a considerable amount of a crop)
Vineyard location in Burgandy
Basic village level= usually flat sites at the bottom of a slope
Premier cru and grand cru =mid slope
South or East facing exposure is best offering protection from westerly winds.
Soil type?
Very varied.
Soil types change dramatically over small areas.
Soil on hillsides are shallower with better drainage and soil on the flat land is deeper and more fertile
Describe a Chablis premier cru or grand cru:
Tend to be located on hillside sites with South facing aspect.
They generally show riper, more concentrated fruits (citrus rather than green apple) and more body yet are still balanced with high acidity.
(In comparison to petit Chablis and Chablis)
Some producers ferment or age a portion of their premier cru or grand cru in old oak which can give a rounder texture and subtle flavours. Others prefer to retain pure fruit flavours by fermenting and storing the wine in stainless steel or concrete
Key villages of cote de nuits:
Gevrey Chambertin
Vougeout
Vosne Romanee
Nuit Saint Georges
Most famous grand cru sites of the cotes de nuits
In Gevrey chambertin: Chambertin, Chambertin clos de beze
In Vougeot (clos de vougeot)
In Vosne-Romanee : Romanee-conti, La Romanee , Le Tache
Nuit Saint Georges
Key Villages of cote de Beaune:
Aloxe Corton
Beaune
Pommard
Volnay
Mersault
Puligny Montrachet
Chassagne Montrachet
Grand Crus of Beaune
Corton, Corton-charlemagne
(In Aloxe Corton)
Montrachet
Shared by Puligny Montrachet and Chassagne Montrachet
All the villages in the cote de Beaune besides Volnay and Pommard produce:
Both white and red wines
What is different about Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de nuits and Bourgogne Hautes cotes de Beaune?
Are to the west of and on a higher strip of land than the main strip of vineyards.
Their altitude and greater exposure to winds gives them a cooler climate so wines typically have slighter less body and concentration
The main 4 villages of the Cote Chalonnaise
Rully (more whites than reds)
Mercurey (red wines of high rep)
Givry (reds are particularly admired)
Montagny (only white wines)
Premier cru vineyards but no grand cru
