Burgundy Flashcards
What is the climate of Burgundy?
The overall climate is Continental.
It ranges from:
cool Continental in north (Chablis)
moderate Continental in south (Chalonnaise + Mâconnais)
What are the 2 main grape varieties of Burgundy?
White: Chardonnay
Red: Pinot Noir
What are 2 other grapes grown in Burgundy?
Gamay
Aligoté
What 3 climatic hazards does Burgundy experience?
・Rain around flowering in early summer and harvest later in the year (which can cause rot).
・Springtime frost
・Summer hail storms
Which Burgundian grape is particularly susceptible to grey rot?
Pinot Noir
Where are vineyards located?
・village-level
・Premier cru or Grand cru villages
・Village-level
Flat sites or at the bottom of slopes.
・Premier cru or Grand cru villages
Mid-slope (Less prone to frost than those on flat land)
・Grand Cru = South or east facing exposure (Protection from prevailing westerly winds)
Soils in Burgundy
Hillsides = Shallower with better drainage
Flat Land = Deeper and more fertile
Pinot Noir from Burgundy
4,5,7,8,12
4 High acidity
5 Low-medium tannins
7 Red fruit
8 Barrel aging (Better quality = New oak). Earth, game and mushroom as matures
12 Use of whole bunches
Which grape dominates the vineyard area in Burgundy?
Chardonnay
Nearly half the total vineyard area.
Chardonnay
Northern and Southern
North (Chablis) = Lean, steely, high acid wines
South (Macon) = Full-bodied, riper-fruited wines
Technique of premium Chardonnay in Burgundy
・Barrel fermentation
・Barrel aging (six to nine months)
・Malolactic convention
・Use of lees during maturation
What is premature oxidation?
In the early aughts, many white Burgundy wines (Chardonnay) started aging faster than normal and no one was or has been able to explain why it happened.
It continues to be an issue.
What are the main regions (areas of production) in Burgundy?
From north to south:
Chablis
Côte d’Or: Côte de Nuits/Côte de Beaune
Côte Chalonnaise
Mâconnais
Beaujolais (technically part of Burgundy)
What is the river that runs through the heart of Chablis?
The Serein River
How is village level Chablis different from Chablis 1er Cru and Chablis Grand Cru in respect to exposure and location?
Village level Chablis vineyards
・Face north
・Located on slopes and flatter land
Chablis 1er + Grand Cru vineyards ・/
・Face south
・Located on hillsides
Less important vineyards in Chablis are classified as _____.
Petit Chablis
These vineyards are in less favorable areas.
What is the main weather hazard in Chablis?
Frost
How do Chablis producers combat spring frost?
・Sprinklers
・Heaters
What is the only grape variety allowed in Chablis AOP?
Chardonnay
Which grape dominates the vineyard area in Burgundy?
Chardonnay
Nearly half the total vineyard area.
Which Chablis classification is most likely going to see oak?
Chablis Grand Cru and Premier Cru (Sometimes) are fermented in old oak.
The Massif Central runs along which side of the Côte d’Or: the east side or west side?
What does this provide the Côte d’Or?
West side
This allows the Côte d’Or to have east and southeast-facing hillside vineyards.
Generally speaking, Pinot Noirs from the Côte de Nuits tend to be ____ while Pinot Noirs from the Côte de Beaune tend to be ____.
fullest-bodied, longest-lived
fruitier style
All red Grand Crus in Burgundy, except one, are made in the Côte de ____.
All white Grand Crus in Burgundy, except one, are made in the Côte de ____.
Côte de Nuits
Côte de Beaune
List 4 important villages of the Côte de Nuits.
North to south:
Gevrey-Chambertin
Vougeot
Vosne-Romanée
Nuits-Saint-Georges
What are 7 key villages of the Côte de Beaune?
Which are known for red wines and which are known for white wines?
Villages best known for red wines
・Aloxe-Corton AOP
・Beaune AOP
・Pommard AOP
・Volnay AOP
Villages best known for white wines
・Meursault AOP
・Puligny-Montrachet AOP
・Chassagne-Montrachet AOP
Name Puligny-Montrachet’s and Chassagne-Montrachet’s most famous Grand Cru.
Montrachet
The two communes share this Grand Cru.
Name Aloxe-Corton’s 2 famous Grand Crus.
Corton
Corton-Charlemagne
Name Gevrey-Chambertin’s 2 most famous Grand Crus.
Chambertin
Chambertin-Clos de Bèze
Name Vosne-Romanée’s 3 most famous Grand Crus.
Romanée-Conti
La Romanée
La Tâche
What is the main difference between Côte de Nuits-Villages and Côtes de Beaune-Villages?
Côte de Nuits-Villages can be red or white.
Côtes de Beaune-Villages can be red only.
Stylistically, how are Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits and Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune different from Côte de Nuits-Villages and Côte de Beaune-Villages?
Bourgogne HCdNuits + Bourgogne HCdBeaune tend to be lighter in body and less concentrated than CdN-Villages and CdB-Villages.
This is primarily because the vineyards designated as Hautes-Côtes are planted at higher elevation, where the temperature is cooler and the vines are more exposed to wind.
Where is the Côte Châlonnaise?
Directly south of the Côte de Beaune.
What is the only grape variety allowed in Chablis AOP?
Chardonnay
Is harvest in Côte Chalonnaise before or after the Côte d’Or’s?
AFTER because Chalonnaise is higher in altitude. They are ripening less reliable.
= Wines are lighter and tend to mature earlier.
Name the main villages of the Côte Chalonnaise.
From north to south:
Rully
Mercurey
Givry
Montagny
Is Rully AOP better known for its white or red wines?
Whites, but it does make some reds.
It’s an important centre for the production of sparkling wines.
Which AOP in Côte Chalonnaise produces white wine only?
Montagny
What is the regional AOP of the Côte Chalonnaise?
Bourgogne Côte Chalonnaise AOP
Applies to all wines made on the Cote Chalonnaise from Pinot Noir for red, and Chardonnay for white.
What are the AOPs in the Côte Châlonnaise best known for their production of red wines?
Mercurey AOP
Givry AOP
What is the most widely planted grape variety in the Mâconnais?
Chardonnay
Red grape variety in Maconnais?
Gamay
Pinot Noir (Only some)
What styles of wine are produced under the Mâcon AOP?
Red and white wines
What is the only style allowed to be made in Mâcon Villages?
White wine only
What are 3 key appellations of the Mâconnais?
Which two are its most famous?
・Saint-Véran AOP
・Pouilly-Fuissé AOP
・Mâcon AOP/Mâcon-Villages AOP
Mâconnais
Locations
Direction
Planted on the limestone slopes of the Roche De Solutre with east and south-east exposures.
= help produce some of the richest and ripest Chardonnays in Burgundy, which are often complemented by toasty oak flavours.
