Burgundy Flashcards
What is the climate of Chablis?
Cool continental
What is the climate for Burgundy, excluding Chablis?
Moderate continental
What are the three main climate-related risks for Burgundy?
- Rain during flowering (poor fruit set) and harvest (grey rot).
- Spring frosts.
- Localised summer hail storms.
What are the typical locations of vineyards for basic village level Burgundy and why?
On flat sites or at the bottom of slopes.
They have a much higher frost risk.
Deeper and more fertile soils.
Where are Grand Cru and Premier Cru Burgundy vineyards located and why?
Mid slope.
South or east aspect.
South-facing sun.
Giving protection from predominantly westerly winds.
Soils shallower and less fertile.
Better drainage.
Where in Bugundy are the most important Pinot Noir vineyards located?
Côte d’Or
Describe a typical quality Pinot Noir from Côte d’Or.
Red fruit flavours in youth, developing into game & mushroom.
High acidity with low to medium tannins.
Describe two winemaking techniques that are common when making quality Pinot Noir from Côte d’Or.
Whole bunches during fermentation.
Up to 18 months in barrel with the better wines a large proportion of new oak.
Describe four winemaking techniques often used to produce quality white Burgundy in Côte d’Or.
- Barrel fermentation
- Barrel maturation (6-9 months)
- MLC
- Lees contact during maturation
What are the names for the white and red appellations that can come from anywhere in Burgundy?
Bourgogne Rouge
Bourgogne Blanc
Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits, Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beaune, Bourgogne Côte d’Or, Bourgogne Côte Chalonnaise, Mâcon & Mâcon Villages are all what type of appellation?
Regional appellation from Burgundy.
Can the name of the vineyard appear on a Burgundian wine label if it is not a Premier or Grand Cru?
Yes, provided all of the grapes come from the named vineyard.
What is another name for a Burgundian commune?
Village
If a wine label has the name of the vineyard and village and says Premier Cru what can be said about the wine?
All the grapes must have come from the named Premier Cru vineyard
If a wine label has the name of the village and says Premier Cru but has no vineyard name, what can be said about the wine?
It is a blend of multiple Premier Cru vineyards from the named village.
Does a Burgundian Grand Cru wine have to have the name of the village it comes from on the label?
No, only the name of the vineyard and the term Grand Cru need to be stated
Put the following Burgundian appellations in the correct order of hierarchy from highest to lowest.
Grand Cru
Bourgogne Rouge
Premier Cru
Chablis
Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits.
Grand Cru
Premier Cru
Chablis
Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits
Bourgogne Rouge
What is a recognised problem with ageing Chardonnays from Burgundy?
Premature oxidation.
What is the major climatic problem in Chablis and how is it managed in the vineyard?
Frost
Sprinklers
Heaters
What is the only grape variety permitted in Chablis?
Chardonnay
Compare the aspect, flavours and winemaking of basic village level Chablis vs Premier Cru and Grand Cru
Basic Village Chablis:
Flat or north-facing slopes
Green apple
No oak
Grand Cru or Premier Cru:
South-facing hillside slopes
More concentrated citrus flavours
Some producers ferment or age in oak.
In Burgundy’s Côte d’Or the most favourable slopes are formed by the Massif Central. What aspect do they have?
East & South East
Côte d’Or is split into two areas. What are they and which produces the best Chardonnay, which the fullest Pinot Noir?
Côte de Nuits
Fullest Pinot Noir
All but one Grand Cru reds
Côte de Beaune
Best Chardonnay
FYI: Fruitier reds
All but one Grand Cru whites
What are the villages / communes of Côte de Nuits?
From North to South
Gevrey-Chambertin
Vougeot
Vosne-Romanée
Nuits-Saint-Georges
