Burgundy Flashcards
What is the climate of Burgundy ?
Climate ranges from cool continental in the north to moderate continental further south.
What are the climatic hazards of Burgundy ?
Rain
- can frequently disrupt flowering and harvest - leading to reduction of yield
- Can cause grey rot
Spring frost
- Particularly in Chablis region - can damage de buds and reduce yield
Hailstorms
- can destroy crop
Explain the incluence of vineyards location on vine quality level
Village-level vineyard: Bottom of the slope
Premier cru or grand cru : Mid-Slope, are less prone to frost
Highest quality vineyards have south or east facing exposure, protecting from prevaililng westerly winds.
Describe the soils in Burgundy
- Very varied
- Soils on the hillsides are shallower with better drainage, and soil on flat land is deeper and more fertile
- Large number of geological faults combine with erosion =** precise soil types change significantly over small areas**
- These variations might contribute to subtle chanes in the styles of wines
What are the 2 main grapes of Burgundy
Pinot noir and Chardonnay
Aligoté and Gamay are also grown
Where are the most plantings of Pinot noir in Burgundy?
Côte d’Or
Pinot noir accounts for what portion fo the total vineyard area in Burgundy ?
Over a third
What grape is more susceptible of grey rot in Burgundy?
Pinot Noir
Which grapes is in important plantings in the Côte d’Or?
Pinot Noir
Describe a classic Pinot noir from Burgundy
- Red fruit flavours in youth
- Earth, game and mushroom as the wine matures
- High acidity and low to medium tannins (this vary according to vineyards, producer and vintage)
- Use of whole bunches is becoming popular
- 16-18 months barrel ageing is normal
- Generally, the better wines are aged in a proportion of new oak
Generally, Pinot noir is aged in barrel for how many months in Burgundy ?
16-18 months
Chardonnay accounts for what portion fo the total vineyard area in Burgundy ?
Nearly half
Describe the character of Chardonnay from Burgundy
- From lean, steely, high-acid wines in the North
- To fabulously complex, expressive wines of the Côte d’Or
- To more full-bodied, riper fruited wines of Mâcon
What are the premium Burgundy Chardonnay winemaking techniques ?
- Barrel fermentation
- Barrel ageing fro 6-9 months
- Malolactic convesion
- Use of lees during maturation
- Debates regarding how much new oak is appropriate and the ideal toasting
The most expressive and sought-after Chardonnays come from what Burgundy region?
Côte d’Or
What is the problem encountered by Burgundian Chardonnay around 20 year ago ?
Wines were not ageing as expected and whoed dsign of premature oxidation
Its incidence is much lower now than in the last decade
Several causes from vineyard or winery-bbsd have been suggested
Describe the other grape varieties of Burgundy
Aligoté
- Neutral wines with high acidity
- can make high quality wine when grown in sites for full ripeness, but these sites are often reserved for Chardonnay and Pinot noir, so are still rare.
Gamay
- Early drinking red wines with ripe berry fruit and low tannins
- Can be used in some regional appellations, but only Pinot Noir is allowed for wines of village level and above.
On what is based the hierarchy of the Burgundy appellations?
Quality of the vineyard sites
What are the 3 categories of Burgundy appellations ?
- Regional appellations
- Commune appellations
- Single Vineyard appellation : Premiers Crus and Grand Crus
Explain the Regional appellations of Burgundy ?
- Based on the vineyard sites
- Accounts for half of the production
- Most vineyards do not have the right to superior appellations but there are exceptions
Bourgogne and Bourgogne blanc are the most generic. Can come from anywhere in Burgundy and are usually made of Pinot noir and Chardonnay.
With stricter areas
- Bourgogne Hautes côtes de Nuits
- Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beaune
- Bourgogne Côte d’or
- Bourgogne Côte Chalonnaise
In the Mâconnais
Mâcon for red and white wines
Mâcon Villages for white wines only
Explain the Commune Appellations of Burgundy
- account for 1/3 of the total production
- Just the name of the commune/village will be given on the label
- Occasionnaly, if the wine comes from a single vineyard that is not a premier cru or grand cru, the vineyard name will appear as well.
- The term “Village” is sometimes used instead of commune
- Ex; Chablis or Gevrey-Chambertain
Explain the single vineyard appellations of Burgundy
- Vineyards that have consistently made high-quality wines
- Rare that a vineyard belongs to ony one owner (monopole)
Premiers crus
- More than 600
- 1/10 of production
- Must state Premier Cru on the label
- if coming from a single vineyard, the name of the vineyard must appear on label
- Producers may blend wines from various premier cru vinyeards within a village , in which case no vineayrd name appears on the label
Grands Crus
- 1/100 of production.
- 32 in the Côte d’or and 1 in Chablis (divided in 7 delineated climats)
- Only the vineyard appears on the label
- The term grand cru must appear on the label
What is the difference between Village, Premiers crus and Grand crus
Village (commune) : quality wines, most often produced from a blend of plots within a single village
Premiers crus : higher quality wines produced from a specific vineyard. Can be blend wines from various premiers crus vineyards
Grands crus : Higher quality, devided by plots or climats in Chablis, only the vineyards appear on the lable with Grands crus
Where is Chablis village appellation located ?
In the valley of the river Serein
Northern-most part of Burgundy
What is the major climatic hazard of Chablis and what the manage it?
Frost
Sprinklers and heaters are both used as protective measures
What is the only grape permitted in Chablis ?
Chardonnay
Describe the location of the different vineyards in Chablis
Best vineyards are on slopes with favourable south-facing aspects
Basic village-level is often grown on north-facing slopoes and flatter land
Lesser vineyards are classifies as Petit Chablis
Describe the character of Petit chablis and Chablis AOC
- Austere
- Green fruit and high acidity
- Better examples disply riper fruit flavours
Describe the character of Chablis Premier cru and Grand Cru
- Riper, more concentrated fruit (citrus rather than green apple)
- more body, still balanced by high acidity
- A portion can be ferment in old oak, with can give a rounder texture and subtle flavours
- Other retains pure fruit flavours by using stainless steel or concrete vats
What is providing the favourable aspect in Côte d’Or ?
The Massif Central, that runs alongside the western limit of the Côte d’or provides favourable east and south-east facing hillside locations..
Côte d’Or is split in two. Name the 2 regions
- Côte de Nuits (North)
- Côte de Beaune (South)
Describe the character of Pinon noir in Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune
Côte de Nuits : Fullest-bodied, lonest-lived PInot Noirs
Côte de Beaune : Fruitier style, more famous for Chardonnays
All the red Grand crus, except one, are from which Burgundy Region ?
Côte de Nuits
All the white Grands crus except on are from which Burgundy Region ?
Côte de Beaune
What are the key villages of grands crus sites of Côte de Nuits ?
From North to south:
Gevrey- Chambertain
Vougeot
Vosne-Romanée
Nuits-Saint-Georges
Pinot noir
What are the key villages of grand crus sites of Côte de Beaune ?
From North to south:
1. Aloxe-Corton
2. Beaune
3. Pommard (RED)
4. Volnay (RED)
5. Meursault
6. Puligny-Montrachet
7. Chassagne-Montrachet
All produce white wine as well as red except Pommard and Volnay
Highest reputation white are from Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet, the last two sharing Grand cru of Montrachet
Describe the Côte de Nuits-Villages appellation
Can be red or white wine
from vineyards that lie on the Côte de Nuits, but taht do not qulify for one of the more famous village appellations
Describe the Côte de Beaune-Village appellation
Must be red
Can come from any one or a combination of the villages on the côte de Beaune
There are exceptions
Describe the Bourgogne Côte d’Or appellation
recently introduced
appellations for red or white
produced from any of the villages in the Côte d’Or
Describe the regional appellation of Bourgogne Hautes-côtes de Nuits and Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beaune
To the West of and at a higher altitude to the main strip of vineyards.
Greater exposure to winds, giving them a cooler climate, with less body and concentration
Where is located the Côte Chalonnaise?
Describe the factors influencing climate and winemaking
South of the Côte d’or
Higher altitudes, but less consistently towards the east
What are the Côte chalonnaise main grape varieties and wine character ?
Pinot noir and Chardonnay
Lighter and tend to mature earlier
Less pretigious than Côte d’Or
What are the four main village appellations of the Côte Chalonnaise and their styles of wine?
From north to south
1. Rully : more white than red, sparkling wine
2. Mercurey: red wines with highest reputation
3. Givry : smallest village, reds are admired
4. Montany : only white wines
These communes have premier cru vineyards but non grands
crus
Describe the Bourgogne Côte Chalonnise appellation
Regional appellation
Applies to all wines made on the Côte Chalonnaise, from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Where is located the Mâconnais
East and south of the Côte chalnnaise
What are the main grape varieties of the Mâconnais?
Chardonnay is the most widely planted
the reds tend to be from Gamay
Pinot noir is still grown
What is the regional appellation of the Mâconnais ? Describe its style of wines
Mâcon is the regional appellation
Can be red of white
White: Good balance of fresh appell, citrus fruit, medium acidity and midium to full body, hint of creaminess from MLC
Red: light and fruity- early drinking
Describe the wine quality in Mâcon Villages
White wines that represent excellent value for money.
Especially Lugny
White called Mâcon Villages (or Mâcon followed by the name of the Village) can come from any one or a combination of the villages
similar to Mâcon but with more ripeness, body and character
What are the two most famous villages in the Mâconnais ?
Pouilly-Fuissé
Saint-Véran
From which village in the Mâconnais comes premier cru vineyards ?
Pouilly-Fuissé
Describe the characteristics of the best vineyard in the Mâconnais
Limestone slopes of the Roche de Solutré
with east and south-east exposures
Amphitheatre-like slopes act as natural suntraps and help produce some of the richest and ripest Chardonnays in Burgundy, complemented by toasty oak flavours
Describe the best wines from Mâconnais villages appellations
Ripe notes of tropical and stone fruits, most matured for a period of time in barrel to enhance texture and flavours
Explain the Burgundy Appellations Hierarchy
Regional
Bourgogne rouge, Bourgogne Blanc
Sub-Regional
Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits, Côte de Nuits-Villages,Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beaune, Bourgogne Côte Chalonnaise,Mâcon, Mâcon Villages
Commune ou Village
Chablis, Gevrey-Chambertin, Vougeot,Vosne-Romanée, Nuits-Saint-Georges, Côte de Beaune-Villages, Aloxe-Corton, Beaune,Pommard, Volnay, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet, Rully, Mercurey, Givry, Montagny, Pouilly-Fuissé, Saint-Véran
**Premiers crus*
Grands crus
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
What grape variety is more susceptible of grey rot in Burgundy?
Pinot Noir
The côte d’Or is just south of which famous city?
Dijon
