Burgundy * Flashcards
How many subregions in Burgundy - name them
5
1 Chablis (with Grand Auxerrois and Chatellonnais)
2 Cote de Nuits
3 Cote de Beaune
4 Cote Challonais
5 Maconnais
Which need to know appelations are found in Chablis+ subregion
Chablis
Chablis Grand Cru
Petit Chablis
Saint-Bris
Irancy
Vezelay
Which are the need to know appelations in the Cote de Nuits sub-region
There are 9 grouped 2-1-3-1-2
Marsannay
Fixin
Gevrey-Chambertin
Morey St-Denis
Chambolle-Musigny
Vosne-Romanee
Vougeot
Nuit St George
Cote de Nuit St George
Which are the need to know appelations in the Cote de Beaune sub-region
There are 20 grouped
3-4-2-4-3-3-1
Ladoix
Aloxe-Corton
Pernand-Vergelesses
Chorey-les-Beaune
Savigny-les-Beaune
Beaune
Cotes de Beaune
Pommard
Volnay
Monthlie
Saint-Romain
Auxey-Duresses
Saint-Aubin
Meursault
Puligny Montrachet
Chassagne-Montrachet
Blagny
Santenay
Maranges
Cotes de Beaune Villages
Which are the need to know appellations of the Cote Challonais
Bouzeron
Rully
Mercurey
Givry
Montagny
Which are the need to know appellations of the Maconnais
Pouilly Fuisse
Saint Veran
Vire-Clesse
Why is Burgundy so tightly linked to the concept of terroir
Each vineyard parcel has been assessed for its ‘terroir’ combination of soil type and structure, aspect, micro-climate
What was the role of the Church in determining the concept of terroir
Monks of the middle ages assessed each vineyard site in Burgundy
What is the difference between a lieu-dit and a climat
Lieu dit=More Formal =parcel of line within a commune with a geographical or topographical characteristic (a cadastral unit used by geographers)
Climat=parcel of land associated with Premier or Grand Cru (vigneron’s notion of site). Climat=slope/incline
Explain why quality varies greatly midst one Grand Cru parcel
Many owners- different viticultural techniques
Many climats within a single Grand Cru
Who were the 4 main Dukes of Burgundy
Philippe the Bold: He Ruled from 1363 to 1404 and outlawed Gamay in an attempt to promote Pinot Noir.
John the Fearless: He Ruled from 1404 to 1419 and He was the appointed guardian of the future King of France and assassinated for being power-hungry.
Philippe the Good: He Ruled from 1419 to 1467 and captured Joan of Arc and surrendered her to the English. He also established the Hospices de Beaune, a charity hospital for common people.
Charles the Rash: He Ruled from 1467 to 1477 and died attempting to conquer Alsace and Lorraine.
What was the repercussion of King Louis-Philippe granting Gevery the right to append Chambertin to its name
Chambertin was Gevery’s most famous vineyard
Many other villages followed suit
Give examples of how the Napoleonic code impacted Burgundian wine industry
Vineyards have fragmented as a result of the law of equal inheritance among children laid down in the Napoleonic Code.
For example, the grand cru vineyard Clos de Vougeot, which was owned by the Cistercian monks until the late 18th century. It’s now broken up into more than 80 individually owned parcels, some comprising just a few rows of vines.
More growers have led to rise of negociants variable quality and investors
Give examples of how the French revolution has impacted the Burgundian wine industry
After the French Revolution in 1791, the vineyards were sold off, often split between several owners.
Few monopoles survived
Explain the reason for Burgundy’s shift in focus from red to white wine in the 1980s
Increasing world wide demand for white wine - increase Chablis and Maconnais
1986= 60% red
2019=60% white
Why does Burgundy, representing only 4.5% of France’s total wine production, rank as so important on global wine stage
Represents 21% of French wine revenue (still wines)
What is the general climate of Burgundy
Continental
How does the climate in Burgundy vary from North to South
Warmer as travel south
Oceanic influences in North
Mediterranean influences in South
How do the differing climatic influences impact the growing season
In South- eg Maconnais- budbreak and harvest is earlier (week for budbreak, several weeks for Harvest)
In North - eg Chablis and Le Grand Auxerrois enjoy a more semi-continental climate that is wetter, and are often susceptible to springtime frosts- Budbreak and harvest is later
What are the geological forces that formed the Bourgogne region
Jurassic period - area was sea
Later Alps formed, Bresse plain fell
Rift valley formed (graben) - of which Cote d’Or escarpment is part
Many subsequent faults and valleys formed by rivers surrounding
What are the two uplifts of the Saone Graben
Jura (to East)
Morvan uplands (to West) - part of Massif Central
How does vineyard location on the slope relate to wine quality
Top of slope=Stony, eroded (possibly too cold), steep, rainfall falls away too quickly
Bottom of slope = More clay, fertility, water, deep soils
Middle is perfect - also get best sun aspect
How does slope aspect relate to wine quality
Best are South, South East facing
Sun in morning and during day
Protection from westerly winds
Which are the primary grape varities of Burgundy
White=Chardonnay, Aligote
(plus some Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanc, Melon de Bourgogne and Sacy)
Red=Pinot Noir
(plus some Pinot Gris, Gamay and Cesar)
Where is Chardonnay generally planted
In soils with more limestone and less clay
Up at the top of a slope
(places where Pinot struggles to ripen)
Cotes de Beaune and Chablis
Where is Pinot Noir generally planted
In warmer soils calcareous soils
Iron or clay can give deeper wines
middle to bottom of slope
What types of wine can you get from Chardonnay
North - steely
South - ripe supple opulent peachy, nutty-buttery
Round rich mouth feel
Describe the characteristics of wine that you get from Pinot Noir
Fragrence, finesse, delicay
Strawberry soft summer fruits
From oak - vanilla, fondant
From aging - game, vegetal, damson, sweetness
List the chief viticultural hazards in Burgundy
Spring Frosts
Summer hailstorms
Rot (for thin skinned Pinot)
How do viticultural practices vary throughout the region
Handpicking and gentle ploughing in Cote d’Or- machine elsewhere
Dense planting in Cote d’Or
Single guyot system in Cote d’Or - cordon elsewhere
How is global warming impacting Burgundy
More organic/bio dynamic practices (at least lutte-raisonne)
Different clones
Drier and hotter
Earlier harvest
More extreme weather conditions
What is the role of the negociant in Burgundy
wine merchants who buy in grapes, must, or wine, blend different lots of wine within an appellation, and bottle the result under their own label.
So many individual growers produce tiny quantities from each of a number of different appellations that it can make sense to make up commercially more significant quantities and bottle them together. Many of the larger Burgundy négociants have significant vineyard holdings of their own.
What is the classification hierarchy of vineyard sites
1=Top=Grand Cru (32 vineyards). Chablis must include Chablis name otherwise just vineyard plot
2=Premier Cru (662 vineyards) - label must include Village AOC name as well as vineyard
3=Village AOCs (44)
4= Regional AOCs (7)
Describe wine styles within Chablis +
Chablis is 100% white chardonnay
Saint-Bris AOC is for Sauvignon Blanc
Irancy AOC is for reds from Pinot Noir
Vezelay AOC is for whites for Chardonnay
Chatillonais is not an AOC but makes Cremant de Bourgogne
Describe the wine styles within Cote de Nuits
All AOCs produce red from Pinot Noir and production is almost all red
Just red - (green camper van)
Geverey-Chambertin
Chambolle-Musigny
Vosnee Romanee
These AOCs have white from Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc as well
Marsannay (also Rose!!)
Fixin
Morey St Denis
Vougeot
Nuits dt George
Cote de Nuits-Villages
Describe the wine styles within the Cote de Beaune
All AOCs produce red from Pinot Noir and production is 2/3rds red and 1/3rd white
Just red (the red couple- and the 2 from the end - blue coats)
Pommard
Volnay
Blagny
Cotes de Beaune Villages
These have white from Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc as well
Aloxe-Corton
Pernand Vergeless
Chorey-les-Beane
Savigny-les-Beaune
Beaune
Cotes de Beaune
Monthelie
Saint-Romain
Auxury Duresses
Saint-Aubin
Meursault
Puligny-Montrachet
Chassagne-Montrachet
Santenay
Maranges
Describe the wine styles within the Cotes Chalonnais
Production is 60% red
Bouzeron AOC is for Aligote
Rully AOC is for Cremant 2/3rds, still white 2/9ths and still red 1/9th
Mercury and Givry AOCs are mostly still reds from Pinot Noir
Montagny AOC is for whites from Chardonnay
Describe the wine styles within the Maconnais
90% of the vineyards are Chardonnay
Pouilly-Fuisse and St-Veran AOCs are for still dry Chardonnay
Vire-Clesse AOC is known for late harvest semi-sweet wines
What are the wine-making options particular to Chablis
Fermented in stainless steel
Matured in stainless steel, concrete or neutral oak vats
What are the wine-making options particular to Cotes de Nuits/Pinot Noir
Whether to hand or machine harvest?
Whether to chaptalise/acidify?
Destem the grapes- wholly, partly, not at all? (more now de-stemming)
Whether to prolong maceration/cold soaking - 4/5 days?
Whether to use cultures or natural yeasts?
What temperature to ferment?
Whether to do pigeage (treading down cap) or pump over?
Length of aging
Aging vessel - 228 oak barrels
What are the wine-making options particular for the Cotes de Beaune for Chardonnay
Whether to press grapes
Amount of skin contact, left to settle, then Fermentation in oak 228 casks for up to a year (see barrel fermentation)?
Malolactic fermentation
Lees stirring? (battonage)
Define the term premox
white Bourgogne ages too quickly or becomes completely oxidized
What are the reasons for pre-mox
Certain clones,
fully ripe fruit,
Less use of sulphur and
Less bâtonnage
Inadequate corks
What are the 7 regional AOCs of Burgundy
Bourgogne AOC (with 13 DGCs)
Coteaux Bourgognian AOC
Macon AOC
Cremant de Bourgogne AOC
Bourgogne Mousseaux AOC
Bourgogne Aligote AOC
Bourgogne Passe-tous-Grains AOC
What are the grapes most likely to be used in Cremant de Bourgogne
Chardonnay
Pinot Blanc
Pinot Gris
Pinot Noir
Where is Cremant de Bourgogne likely to be made
Throughout but often cotes and Chalonnais and Chatillonais
What is the difference between Eminent and Grand Eminant Cremant de Bourgogne
Both have specifications regarding the production of the wine,
-amount of time they are aged on laths
The Crémant de Bourgogne Eminent denomination requires minimum ageing of 24 months
Crémant de Bourgogne Grand Eminent denomination is 36 months
PLUS 3 months after disgorgement
PLUS only Brut
PLUS >10% abv
PLUS only Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (can put Gamay in rose)
PLUS only first 75% of pressed juice
What are the hierarchial AOCs of Chablis
1 (Top) Chablis Grand Cru AOC
2 Chablis AOC- Premier Cru
3 Chablis AOC
4 Petit Chablis
What are the points to note for Chablis Grand Crus
One of 7 climats on single hill
Kimmeridgean marl
What are
Blanchots
Bougros
Les Clos
Grenouilles
Preuses
Valmur
Vaudesir
The 7 climats of Chablis Grand Cru
What is La Moutonne
Climat in Chablis that was not included as Grand Cru
What are the points for note for Chablis Premier Crus
Associated with 40 climats (17 umbrella groups)
Can use one of 10 villages on label
Kimmeridgeian marl
Near the River Serein
What are the points to note for Chablis AOC
Largest area - 65% of all Chablis wines
All near village of Chablis
Some slopes/some plains
Kimmeridgean marl
What are the points to note for Petit Chablis AOC
Covers all communes in Chablis
Portlandian marl
Hilltops or plains
Which are the need to know AOCs of Grand Auxerrois
Auxerrois is 60% white
Saint-Bris AOC is for Sauvignon Blanc
Irancy AOC is for reds from Pinot Noir
Vezelay AOC is for whites for Chardonnay
What are the need to know AOCs for Chatillonnais
Chatillonais is not an AOC but makes Cremant de Bourgogne
Name the AOCs of the Cote Chalonnaise
Production is 60% red
Bouzeron AOC is for Aligote
Rully AOC is for Cremant 2/3rds, still white 2/9ths and still red 1/9th
Mercury and Givry AOCs are mostly still reds from Pinot Noir
Montagny AOC is for whites from Chardonnay
Name the AOCs of the Maconnaise
90% of the vineyards are Chardonnay
Pouilly-Fuisse and St-Veran AOCs are for still dry Chardonnay
Macon AOc - which may have one of 26 DGCs or Villages appended (latter is for white only)
Vire-Clesse AOC is known for late harvest semi-sweet wines
What is the difference between Chalonnaise and Maconnaise areas
Maconnaise warmer (med influence)
Chalonnaise windier - less protection from winds
Maconnaise gently undulating- Cote Chalonnais is east facing slopes
Chalonnaise soils more limestone - Maconanais more sandy
What is the first cluster of AOCs in the Cote de Nuits
Marsannay and Fixin
Marsannay known for producing rose
Fixin - mostly reds
What does ‘Bad Boys Get Lovely Ladies Very Vocal’ mean
Grand Cru vineyards of Chablis
Bougros;
Blanchot;
Grenouilles;
Les Clos;
Les Preuses ;
Vaudésir;
Valmur
What does ‘Laughter and Playing can stop babies crying -
Pope V makes saints, and sinners make perfect children
- but Sting makes videos’
AOCs of Cote du Beaune
Laughing=Ladoix
And=Aloxe Corton
Playing=Pernand Vergelesse
Can=Chorey le Beaune
Stop=Savigny le Beaune
Babies=Beaune
Crying=Cote de Beaune
Pope = Pommard
V=Volnay
Makes=Monthelie
Saints=Saint Romain
And=Auxey Duresses
Sinners=Saint-Aubin
Make=Meursault
Perfect=Puligny Montrachet
Children=Chassagne Montrachet
But=Blagny
Sting=Santanay
Makes=Maranges
Videos=Villages
What does ‘Mr Flintoff, Give My Children Very Very Nice Vin’.
AOCs of Cotes de Nuits
Mr=Marsannay
Flintoff=Fixin
Give=Gevrey Chambertin
My=Morey St Denis
Children=Chambolle Musigny
Very=Vougeot
Very=Vosne-Romanee
Nice=Nuits St George
Vin=Villages
What does ‘Boozers Make really Good Martinis’ mean
AOCs of Cote Chalonnais
Boozers=Bouzeron
Make=Mercurey
Really =Rully
Good=Givrey
Martinis=Montagne
When can you see the grape variety on the label
It is only permitted on the labels of regional wines - not higher level wines
Gamay is only used in regional Burgundy appelations - True of False
False
Gamay is used in regional AOCs
Primary (with Pinot Noir) red grape in Macon
Sole red grape in Macon -DGCs
In which 3 AOCs is chardonnay not the principal white grape
Saint-Bris (Sauvignon Blanc/Gris)
Bouzeron (Aligote) and
Bourgogne Aligote
How much vineyard area is taken up by the 6 minor (not main 4) grape varieties - and name them
1%
Cesar (red found in Yonne and Irancy)
Pinot Gris (or Pinot Beurot is pink- found in Marsanny and Burgundy roses)
Pinot Blanc (found throughout)
Melon de Bourgogne (found in Burgundy Coteuax and Cremant)
Sacy (rare white found in Burgundy Coteuax and Cremant)
Sauvignon Blanc (and Gris found in Saint-Bris)
Which grape is 51% of plantings in Burgundy
Chardonnay
Which grape is 40% of plantings in Burgundy
Pinot Noir
Which are there more plantings of in Burgundy - Aligote or Gamay
Aligote= 6%
Gamay=2.5%
When was the first official mapping and classification of the Cote d’Or vineyards
1861
When were Burgundy’s boundaries first legally defined
1930
What is the quality pyramid for Burgundy AOCs
33 are Grand Cru AOCs=1%
662 are Premier Cru (part of village AOCs) =10%
44 are Village AOC=37%
7 are Regional AOC=52%
What grapes would you normally find in white or red regional Burgundy AOC
100% Chardonnay (white)
100% Pinot Noir (red)
Can both include Pinot Gris or Blanc or Cesar (if near Chablis)
What is minimum Gamay in a Bourgogne AOC Gamay and where can the grapes come from
85%
Grapes must come from Beaujolais Crus
How many DGCs in the Bourgogne AOC
13
Remeber Cotes de Couchois=Unique area!
Eg Chitry, Hautes Cotes de Blancs, Tonnere
What grapes would you find in a Macon (non DGC) AOC wine
White=100% Chardonnay
Red/Rose=Mix Pinot Noir and Gamay
What grapes would you find in a Macon -DGC wine
White=100% Chadonnay
Red=100% Gamay
How many Macon AOC DGCs are for solely white
6
If you found a Macon Villages AOC what would the wine be made from?
Only white from 100% Chardonnay
Which is this Burgundy AOC from the description…
Regional
White from Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Aligote and Melon
Red from Gamay and Pinot Noir and Cesar
Rose wines called Clairet
Coteaux Bourguigons
How long must a Cremant de Bourgogne stay on the lees
Min 9 months
What are the min amounts of Pinot Noir and Gamay found in a Burgundy Passe-tout-Grains
30% Pinot Noir
15% Gamay
How would you describe a wine from the Bourgogne Mousseaux AOC
Sparkling red
Trad method
Gamay and Pinot Noir normally
9/12 on lees
>3.5 ATM
Which AOC is 39% of the production of regional Burgundy AOCs
Burgundy AOC (with DGCs)
Which AOC is 28% of the production of regional AOCs
Macon (with DGCs and Villages)
Which AOC is 19 % of the production of regional AOCs
Cremant de Bourgogne
Which produces more - Bourgogne Passetoutgrains, Bourgogne Aligote or Coteaux Bourguignons
Bourgogne Aligote (11%)
Coteaux Bourguignons (2%)
Bourgogne Passetoutgrains (1%)