Burgundy Flashcards
From north to south, what are the subregions of Burgundy?
Chablis, Cote d’Or (Cote de Nuits first, then Cote de Beaune), Cote Chalonnaise, the Macconais, and Beaujolais
What are individual vineyard plots called in Burgundy? When did these divisions begin?
Climats, which began during the period of the great monasteries (1000 CE onwards)
What cities mark the length of Burgundy (excluding Chablis and Beaujolais)?
Dijon in the north and Macon in the south
Why are prices high in Burgundy?
Limited supply and surging worldwide demand
Describe a typical Chablis
Dry, medium bodied, med alc, high acid, green apple and lemon, no or minimal oak (although sometimes seen in premier and grand cru). Good to outstanding and ageworthy
Describe Chablis’ historical swings in popularity
Very popular in the early 19th century due to proximity to Paris, with 40,000 ha under vine. Plantings shrank during phylloxera, then powdery mildew, then the Paris-Lyons-Marseille railway in the mid 19th century (Chablis could not compete with cheaper wines from the Ssouth). Rural depopulation after WW1 and frost of 1945 reduced Chablis to just 500 ha under vine. Since then, land under vine has regrown to 5,500 ha.
Describe the climate and weather of Chablis
Continental with cold winters and warm summers. Significant vintage variation, with ripening a concern (early-ripening Chardonnay helps with this). Rain throughout the year increases threat of fungal diseases and rot leading up to harvest. Also vulnerable to spring frosts and hair storms, which impact yields.
What are the major vineyard risk management strategies employed in Chablis to protect from spring frosts?
Smudge pts (which are smoky, cause air pollution, and require vineyard staff), sprinklers or “aspersion” (most popular option, but installation and maintenance makes it cost prohibitive to vineyards that are not premier or grand cru or are otherwise well-funded), pruning choices (later pruning promotes later bud-burst, which reduces the chance of damage to new buds from early frost
What are the main rootstocks used in Chablis and why?
41B (vinifera x berlandier) because it is tolerant of limestone soils with high PH, or 420A (riparia x berlandieri) for low vigor and tolerance of high ph soils
What is the vine training system employed in Chablis?
Double Guyot, so that if one can fails the other may still survive frost
What is Taille Chablis?
A multi-armed cordon system that is used in Champagne, not Chablis)
Is mechanization common in Chablis?
Yes, much of Chablis is picked by machine, although the grand cru vineyards are mostly too steep for mechanization and require hand picking
Describe the location and soil types of Petit Chablis
Higher, cooler vineyards with Portlandian soils (hard limestone with a lesser amount of clay)
Describe the topography and soil type of Chablis
Large area of Kimmeridgian soil with mixed aspects. Predominantly on flat land or gentle slopes. Aspects vary, with many north-facing sites leading to light-bodied wines notable for high acidity (intensity increases from Petit Chablis to Chablis)
Describe the location, soil type, and labeling convention of Chablis Premier Cru
40 named vineyards have premier cru status, predominantly on south- and south-east facing slopes of Kimmeridgian soil. Some larger vineyards have specific lieux-dits within them. Wines may be labelled under their specific site or the larger climat within which they fall
What is the difference between a climat and a lieu-dit?
A climat is a named vineyard fixed in AOC law, a lieu-dit is a named piece of land in the centralized land register
How many grand cru are there in Chablis?
One, but it has seven named vineyards (including Les Clos and Vaudesir)
Describe the location and soil type of Chablis grand cru
Chablis’ grand cru is immediately next to th village itself, facing southwest, on the right bank of the River Serein, on Kimmeridgian soil. South-facing slopes promote ripening and give wines with greater weight and concentration than Chblis and Chablis 1er Cru. Soil is a crumbly marl with good drainage and high clay content for water retention
Describe the aspects of Chablis Grand Cru and 1er Cru, and what separates Grand Cru from 1er Cru
Both are site on south-facing slopes, usually in the middle. Slopes mean the vineyards are better drained and protected from frost, and southerly aspect means better light interception and riper fruit. The Grand Cru vineyards are separated from the adjacent 1er Cru vineyards by a belt of trees that protect the GC from northerly wind, allowing wines of greater concentration, body, and aging potential
Is chaptalization allowed in Chablis?
Yes, and it is used up to the legal limit in all but the warmest years
Describe fermentation in Chablis
Typically in stainless and stored in stainless or concrete. Malo is common to soften acidity, and aging on lees for texture is common
Describe the use of oak in Chablis
Oak flavors are typically not desired in generic Chablis, which should be bright and crisp with high acid. Grand Cru, and some 1er Cru, may be barrel fermented and aged in barrels. There is a variety of oak styles at this level
Give examples of Grand Cru Chablis producers who use different oak profiles
Dauvissat and Raveneau use old oak, William Fevre uses new, and Jean-Marc Brocard uses stainless and concrete even at the Grand Cru level
What are the AOC regulations for Chablis, Petit Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru, and Chablis Grand Cru?
100% Chardonnay in all instances. Max yields are 60 hl/ha for Petite Chablis and Chablis AOC, 58 hl/ha for Chablis Premier Cru AOC, and 54 hl/ha for Chablis Grand Cru AOC
What is the state of the distinction between negociants and domaines in Chablis?
The line is blurring as negociants buy land and some domines supplement their own production with additional negociant business
What is La Chablisienne?
A cooperative that vinifies about 1/3 of all of Chablis production and is active at every levelof the appellation hierarchy
What are the two most important producer associations in Chablis, and what do they do?
Syndicat de Defense de l”appellation de Chablis, founded by Fevre, combats fraud and addresses environmental issues, and L’Union des Grand Crus de Chblis promotes quality Chablis Grand Cru, is limited to Grand Cru site owners, and requires members to practice sustainable viticulture and harvest by hand
Name two Chablis producers who sell at extremely high prices
Francois Raveneau and Vinent Dauvissat
What percentage of Chablis is exported?
2/3, with the UK as the largest destination
Describe the location and climate of the Cote d’Or, Cote Chalonnaise, and Maconnais
Moderate continental climate, with cold winters and warm summers. Summers are short, making Chardonnay and Pinot Noir suitable. Early autumn is typically dry but rain can be a threat at harvest. Maconnais is typically slightly drier and warmer than Cote d’Or
What are the major factors affecting individual site quality in the Cote d’Or?
Aspect, altitude, degree of slope, soil content. Combined with each year’s particular weather, vintage variation is marked
Why has frost risk increased in the Cote d’Or in recent decades?
Warmer winters have encouraged earlier growth, increasing the risk of frosts after budbreak
What are the effects of hail on the Cote d’Or, and what is done about it?
Hail is a problem throughout the season. April and May hail can damage the vine growth and lead to reduced yields, while later in the season hail causes fruit damage to exposed grapes. Damaged berries must be removed or grey rot will taint the wine. Sorting tables are important in mitigating rot risk. Beginning in June 2018 limited use of hail netting is allowed. Thunderclouds are also seeded with silver iodide to cause precipitation away from the vineyards
Is irrigation permitted in the Cote d’Or?
No, which makes water stress an issue for producers in hot, dry vinages. Vineyards with high clay content do better in these circumstances
Describe the aspects of the Cote d’Or
The main ridge of the hills are basically east-facing, but the gentle slopes and side valleys give a range of aspects and may be south-east or southerly
What topography offers the best vineyard sites in the Cote d’Or?
Mid-slope sites with well-draining, shallow soils, good sunlight interception, and (relative) frost protection and ripening potential
What is grown on the coolest sites of the Cote d’Or?
Aligote or fruit for Cremant de Bourgogne
Describe the soils of the Cote d’Or
Mostly mixtures of limestones and clay, with varying proportions. Typically more limestone in the Cote de Nuits (better for PN) and deeper, more clay-based soils in the Cote de Beaune (better for Chard). Depth varies significantlydue to erosion, with thinner soils at high elevations and deeper ones at the bottom of slopes
Describe the soils of the Cote Chalonnaise and Macconais
Varied mixture of limestones and clay
What is the effect of varying soil depth in the Cote d’Or?
At the top of a slope the soil is too thin for vines to thrive, while the bottom is deeper, resulting in poorer drainage and more clay, causing greater fertility, more vigorous vines, greater shading, and less ripe fruit as a result
Where is the best Aligote grown?
Bourzeron, in the Cote Chalonnaise
Describe Chardonnay viticulture and disease threats
Versatile variety suited to a range of climates. Early-budding and susceptible to spring frosts. Early-ripening, so good for cool regions. Can produce relatively high yields without loss of quality. Prone to grey rot, powdery mildew, millerandage, and grapevin yellows. Grows in a range of soils and climates, resulting in a range of styles, but very good in limestone/clay. Vigor management is important in good years
Describe Pinot Noir viticulture and disease threats
Early-budding and susceptible to spring frost. Early-ripening, so suitable for cool regions. Very sensitive to yield, and must be limited to produce quality wine. Delicate and prone to millerandage, downy and powdery mildew, botrytis, fan leaf, leaf roll. Can ripen too fast in warm climates, reducing aromas, or even shrivel and sunburn.
Describe the role of clone selection in Pinot Noir viticulture
Many of the clones are drawn from the Dijon families developed at University of Burgundy Dijon. Different clones vary in yield, disease tolerance, ripening speed, and fruit characteristics, and producers must decide whether to plant single clones for more uniform fruit or a mix to diversify grape characteristics and potential disease resistance
Describe vineyard management in the Cote d’Or
Some vines pruned using Cordon systems (including Cordon de Royat) to limit vigor and yields. Traditionally, Guyot-training with VSP was used, and many growers have returned to Guyot or Poussard-Guyot
What is Poussard-Guyot?
An especially soft Guyot system in which the same sap route is maintained through the years, with pruning wounds only on the upper part of the cordon, reducing wounds cutting down on Esca and other trunk diseases. Requires skilled vineyard workers but effective in combatting disease and aiding canopy management
What is the planting density of the Cote d’Or?
Typically 8-10,000 vines per ha, but some growers are much higher. Denser planting is thought to encourage root competition, leading to better quality fruit with smaller berries and high intensity
What are some methods growers in the Cote d’Or employ to manage and reduce yields? What are the advantages and disadvantages of these methods?
Debudding, usually before flowering, and green harvesting during the latter part of the growing season. Debudding can promote good balance in the vine, but risks more dramatic damage from hail, frost, or fungal disease because potential yield is reduced so early in the season. Green harvesting allows growers to assess size, shape, and position of bunches before sacrificing them and take weather into account, but can cause the vine to compensate for the loss via excessive growth in the remaining bunches and a resultant dilution in the grapes.
