Burgundy Flashcards
What is the climate in Chablis?
Continental
Cold winters
Warm summers
Why is Chardonnay favoured in Chablis?
Early ripening which is beneficial in cool climate (can help to reduce vintage variation)
What is the average annual rainfall in Chablis?
670mm
Spread through the year - can promote fungal disease and problems at harvest
What is the main soil type in Chablis?
Kimmeridgian - limestone & clay containing a high proportion of fossilised seashells
What options do producers in Chablis have for managing frost?
- Smudge pots (smoky and bad for environment, need staff in the vineyard)
- Sprinklers (aspersion) - high installation costs
- Pruning - can prune to delay bud burst
What rootstock is widely used in Chablis and why?
41B
Highly tolerant of limestone soils with high pH
Why is the double Guyot training system typical in Chablis?
Has two canes so if one fails or is damaged by frost the other may survive
Why are grand cru sites in Chablis generally picked by hand?
Incredibly steep
What is the growing environment in Petit Chablis?
Higher, cooler vineyards with Portlandian soil (hard limestone with less clay than Chablis)
How many Premier Cru sites are there in Chablis?
40
Predominantly south/ south east facing on Kimmeridgian soil
Describe the Chablis Grand Cru
- one site with seven named vineyards called climats (eg Les Clos)
- southwest facing
- on bank of River Serein
- Kimmeridgian soil (crumbly marl = good drainage, clay = water retention, promotes quality)
- represents 1% of production
Why are Premier Cru and Grand Cru Chablis sites predominantly planted mid slope on south facing slopes?
- Better drainage and frost protection
- South facing means better light interception and riper fruit
- Belt of trees next to Grand Cru protects from northerly winds
What is the name of the co-op that vinifies one third of Chablis wine?
La Chablisienne
What is the typical winemaking process for a Chablis wine?
- Fermentation in stainless steel
- Little to no use of oak
- Chaptalisation in all but the warmest years
- Malolactic conversion common to soften acidity
- Lees aging sometimes used to enhance texture
Why is the use of oak controversial in Chablis?
Many believe Chablis should not be Oaked as the wine is celebrated for crisp citrus and green apple flavours, and high acidity
What are the maximum yields for
- Petit Chablis AOC and Chablis AOC
- Premier Cru AOC
- Grand Cru AOC
- 60 hl/ha
- 58 hl/ha
- 54 hl/ha
What is the climate in Burgundy?
Continental. Warm, relatively short summers and cold winters.
The Maconnais is typically slightly dried and hotter
What is the name of the hills which moderate the climate in the Côte d’Or?
Morvan hills
What is the average annual rainfall in Burgundy?
700mm
Why is promoting ripeness of skins and pips in Pinot Noir a priority for Burgundy growers?
Pinot Noir can struggle to ripen full in cool years - this can result in underripe flavour and tannin in the finished wines
Why is the risk of spring frost particularly acute for both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir?
They are both early budding varieties and spring frosts after bud burst can substantially lower yields
Why is hail in Burgundy a problem and what measures can be taken to mitigate the effects?
April-May hail can damage early vine growth and reduce yield or lead to total crop loss - later in the growing season can damage fruit and increase risk of fungal disease
Preventative measures;
- Sorting in the winery
- Anti hail netting (limited use permitted since 2018)
- Silver iodide (most common)
Describe the topography of the Côte d’Or
A range of hills running north to south with varying altitudes of 200-400 metres
There are also side valleys running east to west which gives a wide range of aspects such as east, south, south-east
Why are the best sites in Burgundy located on the mid slope?
- well draining shallow soils
- good sunlight interception and thus better ripening potential
- relative frost protection
Describe the main differences between the soils in the Cote de Nuits and the Cote de Beaune
CDN has a higher limestone content - better for Pinot Noir
CDB has a higher clay content & is deeper - better for Chardonnay
What affects soil depth and why is this a problem?
Mainly due to movement down the slopes due to erosion
- thinner soils higher up are too thin for vines to thrive
- deeper soil lower down is too fertile leading to excessive canopy growth and potential for shading and underripeness
Describe the main characteristics of Chardonnay
- Early budding (spring frost risk)
- Early ripening (suitable for cool climates)
- Can achieve relatively high yields without loss of quality
- Prone to grey rot, mildew, millerandage and grapevine yellows
- Cool climates give notes of apple, pear, citrus - warmer climates more melon, stone fruit and ripe citrus
- Main challenge in Burgundy is vigour management
Describe the main characteristics of Pinot Noir
- Early budding (spring frosts)
- Late ripening (suitable for cool climate)
- Yields must be limited to ensure high quality fruit
- Very delicate - susceptible to mildew, botrytis, fan leaf, leaf roll, berries can get sunburnt
- Ripens too fast in warm climates
- Main concern for Burgundy growers is achieving sufficient ripeness and balance
- Red fruit, oak influence, medium tannin, game and mushroom notes with age