Burgundy Flashcards
Background
Complex system of land ownership-fractional ownerships =uneven range of quality
Thousands of tiny vineyards
-each with multiple owners
Two grapes dominate :Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
Vintage Variation can be dramatic
History
Middle Ages: influence of monastic orders
Napoleonic Code and inheritance laws
Gradual Vineyard ownership fragmentation
Fragmentation leads to the "negociant"
Modern Era: Negociant vs Domaine
-both have pros and consPrimary Grape Varieties
White: Chardonnay and Aligote
Red: Pinot Noir and Gamay
Climate
Continental Climate (four seasons, climate issues like frost, rain at harvest, hail)
Soil
Northern: Chalk and Clay/Marl
Southern: Granite
Burgundy AOC System
Breakdown of Quality Classification low to high
Based on Terroir NOT chateau or brand
Many small vineyards with multiple owners
vineyard classification vs 1855 classification
Producer is Key; Domaine or Negociant
Language of the label is critical: Village, Vineyard, Classification
Regional Appelations 56%
Village 30%
Premier Cru 12%
Grand Cru 2%
Chablis
AOC for whites only Chardonnay exclusively soils: Kimmeridgian Clay/Limestone Region susceptible to late frosts All Grand Cru sites have southwest exposure
Chablis AOC’s
Petite Chablis
Chablis
Chablis Premier Cru (40) -Fourchaume, Mont de Milieu, Montee de Tonnerre, Vaillons
Chablis Grand Cru (7) Vaudesir, Valmur, Les Preuses, Grenouilles, Bougros, Les Clos, Blanchot
Highly Regarded Vintages
2002, 2004, 2005, 2009?
Highly Regarded Producers
Premier Producers • Billaud-Simon • Dauvissat • Grossot • Laroche • Servin
Great Producers • Auffray • Bieville • Bernard Defaix • Long-Depaquit • Joseph Drouhin • William Fèvre • Chateau de Maligny • Louis Michel • J. Moreau • Louis Moreau • Olivier Savary • Laurent Tribut • Les Vaux Sereins
Cote d’Or (Gold Slope)
Two Sub Regions -Cote de Nuit -Cote de Beaune All the red Grand Crus are in Cote de Nuits -exception: Corton is in Beaune All the white Grand Crus are in Beaune -exception: Musigny Blanc in Nuits Base Soil is Limestone mixed with Marl -Limestone dominated soil: best whites -Marl Dominated soil: best reds
Cote de Nuit
Accounts for just 2.5% of overall Burgundy Production
Pinot Noir Dominates plantings
Best Villages hyphenate the greatest Grand Cru Vineyard to their name
Cote de Nuit AOC’s
Marsanny Fixin Gevrey Chambertin- Grand Crus (8) Morey St- Denis -Grand Crus (5) Chambolle-Musigny - Grand Crus (2) Vougeot -Grand Cru (1) Flagey Echezeaux -Grand Crus (2) Vosne-Romanee -Grand Crus (6) Nuit St. Georges -Premier Cru Only Hautes Cote de Nuits Cote de Nuit Villages
Highly Regarded Vintages
2002, 2005, 2009?
Cote de Beaune
More Red Wine produced than white Whites better known Twice the area of the cote de nuit wide range of climates best villages hyphenate the greatest grand cru
