Burgundy Flashcards
Where is Burgundy?
France - Center of France
What is the historical background for Burgundy?
Influenced by Monastic Orders during the Middle Ages
Code Napoleon (1804)
* Inheritance Laws
* Fragmentation of vineyard ownership
* Thousands of tiny vineyard each with many owners
* Uneven range of quality
What are the main regions of Burgundy?
North to South
* Chablis - NorthWest, separate from rest of Burgundy
* Cote D’Or
* Cote Chalonnaise
* Maconnais
* Beaujolais
Burgundy Weather
Continental - Cold winters and hot summers
Frost can be an issue, particularly in Chablis
Burgundy Soil
Rolling hills, most of land was underwater
Most soil has a limestone base, density of soil affects root growth
Cote D’Or slope - best vineyards are on hillsides facing east/southeast
Burgundy Soil types
Burgundy - Chalk, Calcareous clay, marl and limestone
Beaujolais - Granite
White Grapes of Burgundy
Chardonnay (main)
Aligote (small plots)
Red grapes of Burgundy
Pinot Noir (Main)
Gamay (primarily Beaujolais)
Burgundy Labeling Laws & Classification
Top to Bottom
33 Grand Crus
550-600 Premier Crus
Village wines - 30%
Regional Appelations - 56%
What is a Domaine in Burgundy
Grower/Producer that own the vineyards from which they produce wine. Noted by the word “Domaine” with the producer name.
What is a Negociant in Burgundy
Merchants who buy grapes and/or finished wine for blending and bottling under their own label.
Burgundy - What is a Clos?
Plot of vineyard land traditionally surrounded by dry, stone walls
Burgundy - What is a Monopole?
Parcel of land with single ownership
Burgundy - what is a Cote
Hillside or slope
Burgundy - Chablis (location, soil, grapes)
80 miles north of Cote D’Or
Climate is continental, subject to late frosts
Solid is kimmeridgian clay / limestone
Grapes are 100% Chardonnay
Chablis - viticulture and vilification
Subject to late frosts
No oak on lower tier wines, possible oak use on upper tier wines
Malolactic fermentation
Burgundy - Cote D’Or (Golden Slope)
Burgundy - Cote de Nuits (climate, grapes, soil)
Continental climate
Grapes - Pinot Noir
Soil - limestone and marl
Cote de Nuits vinification
Use of French oak, often new
Cote de Nuits Village AOP (top tier)
Gevrey-Chambertin
Morey-St. Denis
Chambolle-Musigny
Vouget
Vosne-Romanee
Nuits-Saint-Georges
Cote de Baune (climate, soil, grapes)
Continental climate
Soil - limestone and marl
Grapes - Pinot Noir and some Chardonnay
New oak used on reds and whites
Cote Chalonnais (climate, soils, grapes)
South of Cote D’Or, continental climate
Grapes -Chardonnay, Aligote (small volume), Pinot Noir
Maconnais
South of Chalonnais, continental climate
Grapes -Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Gamay
Beaujolais (climate, soils, grapes)
South of Maconnais
Semi-continental climate
Soil is schist and granite
Grapes - Gamay, does well in granite
What grape variety is primary to Les Clos
Chardonnay
What grape variety is primary to Meursault
Chardonnay
What grape variety is primary to Pommard
Pinot Noir
What grape variety is primary to Volnay
Pinot Noir
What grape variety is primary to Morgon
Gamay
What grape variety is primary to Bouzeron
Aligote
What grape variety is primary to Gevrey-Chambertin
Pinot Noir
What grape variety is primary to Musigny
Pinot Noir
