Burgundy Flashcards
What important topographical feature affects wines throughout the Cote-d’Or?
Combes. In Cote de Nuits the largest are found in Marsannay, Gevery-Chambertin, Chambolle-Musigny, and Nuits-Saint-George
How do Combes in Cote de Nuits compare to those of the Cote de Beaune?
The tend to be narrower and deeper. Causing faster rushing winds that have greater effects on the vineyards around them.
Where are the best vineyards located in Côte d’Or? What vineyards are in these locations?
Coming out of a Combe, with slightly southeast exposure? Clos St-Jacques (Gevrey), Clos St-Denis, Les Fuees and Les Cras (Chambolle), Les Suchots (Vosne)
What are vineyards benefited by being in southeast exposures at the exit of a Combe?
They have ideal sun exposure, with extreme cooling from the vent of the hillside.
What is the difference between clones and Massal Selection?
A clone is from 1 mother vine that is then propagated at an off-site location. This maintains a single clone and creates less diversity. Massal Selection is a selection of vines with desirable characteristics, that are then planted on site. They can come from multiple parent vines and increase the diversity of the vineyard.
What evidence shows that vines have memory?
Research from University of Dijon. Grew a vine in a confined space and created a dwarf. Took cuttings and planted them in open area, and they remained dwarfs for a few generations.
How does the idea of vine memory play toward village identification?
Nearby villages would have shard cuttings. Meaning that regions would have been propagating vines with similar characteristics that slowly adapted. Creating regions of similar character.
What is the Pinot Foundation Project?
Set up by Albert de Villaine, its a group of 40 like-minded domaines that comb their old vineyards in search of “Pinot Fin” (fine Pinot).
What is Fine Pinot?
A collection of Pinot specimens found in old vineyards that strongly display quality-oriented characteristics. Small clusters, not too tight for aeration, small berries, low production.
What cities demarcate the Cote de Nuits?
Dijon to Nuits-Saint-Georges
How many premier crus in Marsannay? Grand Crus?
NONE
Describe the soils of Marsannay.
Thicker topsoils that are a mess of silt, gravel and clay. Makes for wine not suitable for premier/grand cru.
What kind of wine is “excellent” from Marsannay?
Pinot Noir Rose
What are the wines of Marsannay like?
Medium-bodied. Red berry fruits with florals and stony notes. Little more weight, flesh and density. Can be good but not deep or complex.
What are the wines of Fixin like?
Crunchy, lean, bony. Less flesh. Tannin and acid dominate the wine.
What is good about Fixin wines?
They soften over time and can make great bargain wines to age.
How many Grand Crus in Gevrey-Chambertin? What are they?
9: Chambertin, Chambertin-Clos de Beze, Charmes-Chambertin, Chapelle-Chambertin, Mazoyeres-Chambertin, Mazis-Chambertin, Griotte-Chambertin, Ruchottes-Chambertin, Latricieres-Chambertin
What is the famous Combe of Gevrey?
Combe Lavaux
What great Premier Crus are situated on the Combe Lavaux?
Clos St-Jacques, Lavaux St-Jacques
What are classical traits of Gevrey-Chambertin?
Darker, more purple color. Darker fruits. Savory flavors of dried herbs, spices, more gaminess. Densely packed, tightly woven tannins.
Top producers of Gevrey-Chambertin?
Armand Rousseau, Domaine Fourrier, Philippe Pacalet
How many Grand Crus are in Morey-St-Denis? What are they?
5: Clos St-Denis, Clos de la Roche, Bonne Mares (shared with Chombolle), Clos des Lambrays, Clos de Tart (monopole)
The wines of Morey St-Denis are getting better or worse?
“One to keep an eye on” (Better)
Where in Cote de Nuit can you find Aligoté?
Clos does Monts Luisants1
What are the wines of Morey St-Denis like?
Elegant, not as ethereal as Chambolle, yet not as structured and brawny as Gevrey
Best producers of Morey St-Denis:
Domaine Dujac, Domaine Ponsot, Domaine des Lambrays, Cecile Tremblay, Hubert Lignier
How many Grand Crus in Chambolle- Musigny? What are they?
2: Bonnes Mares (mostly Morey), and Musigny
What is the most well known Premier Cru of Chambolle Musigny?
Les Amoureuses
What about the village of Chambolle-Musigny affects the way its wines are structured?
The village sits higher on the slope than any other village making them slightly cooler and (being higher) in more limestone
What soils are found in Chambolle Musigny?
Terres rouges (reddish-brown with more clay) and terres blanches (limestone rich marl)
What is the classic taste of Chambolle-Musigny?
Light, ethereal expression of Pinot. Less extraction, almost look like dark rose.
Best producers of Chambolle-Musigny:
Domaine Georges Roumier, Jacques-Frederic Mugnier
When was the Clos de Vougeot founded? By who?
1100, by Cistercian monks
What is the largest Grand Cru in the Cote de Nuits?
Clos de Vougeot
What is the problem with Clos Vougeot?
It is so big, and vines at the top of the hill in great soils are much better than those in the mud by the road. 80 different owners. Some bad expressions.
How much of the region of Clos de Vougeot is dominated by the Grand Cru Clos? Are there Premier Cru/village?
80% grand cru! yes, great examples exist.
How are the soils laid out in Vougeot?
Uphill, very little clay and a lot of limestone. More clay midslope. Alluvial and not well draining bottom slope.
Best producers of Clos Vougeot:
Domaine Leroy, Domaine Anne Gros, Domaine Mugneret-Gibourg
How many Grand Cru in Vosne Romanee? What are they?
6: La Tache, La Grand Rue, La Romanee, Romanee Conti, Romanee St-Vivant, Richebourg
How many Grand Cru in Flagey-Echezeaux? What are they?
2: Grand-Echezeaux, Echezeaux
What makes the soil of Vosne Romanee so good?
The presence of montmorillonite.
What is montmorillonite?
A special clay mineral that is great for vines. Also found in Pomerol.
What Premier Cru in Vosne Romanee is considered “just below grand cru”?
Malconsorts
What are the biggest names in whole cluster wines from Burgundy?
DRC, Domaine Leroy, and Domaine Dujac
What are the biggest names in destemmed wines in Burgundy?
Henri Jayer, Liger-Belair, and Meo-Camuzet
Best producers of Vosne Romanee:
DRC, Comte Liger-Belair, Domaine Leroy, Domaine Meo-Camuzet, Georges Mugneret-Gibourg
What region has many suppliers, distilleries, and coopers?
Nuits-St-Georges
Nuit-St-Georges wines are_________ (expensive, overpriced, affordable?)
“Immensely satisfying and affordable” when done right.
How many premier Crus are in Nuits St-Georges?
27
What is a great producer from Nuits-St-Georges that has an affordable wine?
Robert Chevillon - Aux Chaignots 1er Cru ($65)
What 1er Crus from Nuits St-Georges has “clear chades of Vosne”? Why?
Chaignots and Boudots. Borders Vosne-Romanee
How many Grand Crus in Corton? What are they?
3: Corton-Charlemagne, Corton, and Charlemagne
What is Burgundy’s largest Grand Cru?
Corton
What producer bought land in Corton in 2009?
DRC
What soils are found on the hill of Corton?
terres rouge and terres blanches
What are the terres rouge of Corton composed of?
Iron rich clay dominant soils (ideal for Pinot)
What are the terres rouge of Coron composed of?
Limestone and clay rich marls ideal for Chardonnay
What are the principle sites of Corton-Charlemagne? How are they oriented?
en Charlemagne and le Charlemagne. West to northwest (late ripening/racy mineral wine) and west-southwest (riper, more opulent)
What grape dominates the pure south exposure sites in Corton?
Pinot Noir. Chardonnay becomes too ripe and plump.
What are the named plots within the Grand Cru Corton for Red wine?
Les Bressandes, Les Perrieres, Les Pougets, Les Renards, Le Corton and Clos du Roi (best)
What is unique about the soils of Corton-Charlemagne? How does this effect the wine?
It has the least amount of topsoil of any Grand Cru. This causes the Chards to be stern with a chewy resinous quality “like a white wine with tannin.”
What is unusual about the exposure of Corton?
It is one of the only Grand Crus to not face south and east
Top producers of Corton?
Coche-Dury, Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey PYCM, and Bonnes Du Martray
What are the defining characteristics of wines from Beaune?
Hard to say because most of them are blends. 42 crus and most are blended into a cuvée
How are the soils of Beaune distributed? What kind of wines do they make?
More defined by north and south. North: thin, gravelly soils with limestone and clay; Middle: more clay added to the gravel; South: sand- and clay-rich soils
What do the wines of Beaune taste like?
More black than red. Almost blue fruit. Notable earthiness. Lush and fleshy with moderate tannins and acid
Best producers of Beaune
Domaine des Croix, Domaine Drouhin, Nicolas Potel
Where are the better wines of Savigny-les-Beaune located?
On the slopes on the north side
What are the best vineyards of Savigny-les-Beaune?
Fourneaux, Vergelesses, and Serpentieres
What are the soils of Pommard like?
heavy clay. Iron rich and dense
Where are the best areas of Pommard? What are they?
Southern border by Volnay at the top of the slopes. Rugiens-Hautes and Rugiens-Bas. Bas is better.
What village in Pommard is being considered for Grand Cru status?
Rugiens and Epenots
What are the 2 divisions of Epenots?
Grands Epenots and Petits Epenots
What are the wines of Pommard like?
Dark fruit, earthy grit, rustic, chunky tannins.
Best producers of Pommard:
Domaine de Montille and Comte Armand
Where is the best view of Burgundy?
Atop the hill of Volnay
How do the soils of Volnay difference from Pommard? And their wines?
Volnay soils are rich in active limestone as apposed to heavy clay. Creating a more graceful elegant wine similar to Chambolle. (Though, near the border, Volnay can have more muscle)
What are the wines of Volnay like?
Fruit on the red side, raspberry and cherry, with distinct minerality. Less powerful than Chambolle, but the other village known for elegance.
Best wines of Volnay:
Domaine Marquis d’Angerville, Domaine Lafarge
How does the old and new Meursault compare?
Old: buttery, nutty; New: stony, lemony, fresh
How is the quality of village level Meursault?
Near premier cru level
What are the best vineyards of St-Aubin?
En Remilly, Les Murgers des Dents de Chien and La Chateniere
What are the soils of St-Aubin?
Shockingly steep, up to 1200 feet, pure marl-heavy limestone
What is a “marl”?
35-65% clay with the remainder limestone
How many Grand Crus in Puligny-Montrachet? What are they?
4: Montrachet (shared), Batard (shared), Bienvenues and Chevlier
How is the quality of village level Puligny-Montrachet? Why?
Poor. The terroir jumps from high-born to humble in a matter of feet. The water table is so high that shortly after the slope the soil is too moist to make great wine.
Why are the wines of Meursault aged longer in oak than Puligny-Montrachet?
Meursault doesn’t have a high water table so can have underground cellars.
How do the wines of Meursault differ from Puligny-Montrachet?
Puligny-Montrachet has riper fruit character. Lemon curd/peach/pear/pineapple. Meursault is “the vision of straight-line minerality”
Best producers of Puligny-Montrachet
Domaine Leflaive, Etienne Sauzet
How many grand Crus in Chassagne? What are they?
1: Criots-Batard-Montrachet (the least of the Grand Crus)
What is the soil like in Chassagne?
Famous pink Chassagne Limestone used to build the Louvre in Paris.
Where are the premier cru wines found in Chassagne?
On the hill. Village are flatlands (like most of Burgundy)
What is a defining topographical characteristic of Chassagne Montrachet? How is the soil effected by it?
There is a fault in the district of Morgeot. Above the fault is thin topsoil (lean, mineral), below thick alluvial runoff from the St-Aubin Combe (round, fleshy).
What vineyards sit above the fault in Morgeot?
La Romane, Grandes Ruchottes, and En Cailleret
What region in Chassagne-Montrachet is known for red wine?
Clos St-Jean
Where are the best wines of Chassagne-Montrachet found?
Border of Puligny: Chenevottes, Blanchot Dessus, and Enseigneres
Top producers of Chassagne:
PYCM, Paul Pilot, Bernard Moreau
What are the top affordable producers of Chablis?
Patrick Piuze, Domaine Collet, William Fevre
What are the 7 vineyards of Chablis Grand Cru?
Bougros, Blanchot, Les Clos, Valmur, Vaudesir, Grenouilles, and Preuses
What are the top Premier Crus of Chablis?
Right Bank: Fourchaume, Montée de Tonnerre (best); Left Bank: Vaillons, and Montmains
What percentage of Chablis is Petit Chablis, Village, Premier, and Grand Cru
18% Petit Chablis, 64% Village, 16% Premier, and 2% Grand
Where is Grand Cru Chablis located?
The right (north) bank of the Serein River
What is Kimmeridgian marl?
152-157 million years ago. Marl is between 35 and 65% clay with balance limestone.
What are the 2 types of limestone found in Chablis?
Kimmeridgian and Portlandian
How does Portlandian Limestone compare to Kimmeridgian? How does it effect its properties?
It is harder and contains less clay. More clay means more water retention.
Where are the different soils situated in Chablis? What level wines are found on them?
Kimmeridgian is found mid slope (better drainage and sunlight). Younger Portlandian is found on the caps of the hills (Petit Chablis. Colder/windier)
Best wines may have a blend of both soils in the vineyard)
Why is there so much difference between variability Premier Crus?
Premier Crus are on both sides of the Serein. Those on the right (north) bank flank the Grand Crus with steeper slopes (more ripeness) and on left (south) have gentler hills.
What are the top vineyards/parts of Chablis Grand Cru?
Vaudesir, Valmur, and Les Clos
What great Grand Cru can be found for $60.
Louis Michel Vaudesir
Best producers of Chablis:
Dauvissat, Raveneau, Louis Michel,
