Burgundy Flashcards
Explain the influence of the Catholic Church in Burgundy.
Much of vineyard land in Middle Ages was owned by Benedictine, then Cistercian monasteries.
They identified and cultivated the best vineyard sites, and are the reason why Burgundy’s vineyards are named and classified by their terroir.
How has the Napoleonic Code or Inheritance affected vineyards in Burgundy?
During the French Revolution, Burgundy vineyards were taken from the church and aristocracy. Larger parcels were broken up and sold to new owners.
In 1804 the Napoleonic Code established that estates must be divided equally among male heirs when passed down. This led to the fragmentation of vineyards.
What is a clos?
A vineyard plot surrounded with drystone walls common in Burgundy.
Describe the most famous Clos.
Clos Vougeot- a walled 125-acre vineyard once owned by Cistercian monks, now parceled into 80 different plots.
All can use “Grand Cru Clos de Vougeot” on labels. However quality, reputation, price etc. can vary
What is a domaine?
A grower or producer that owns their vineyards. All aspects of wine production from growing to bottling is done by the domaine.
What is a negociant?
A wine merchant who buys grapes and or wines for blending and bottling under their own label
What is a monopole?
Parcels of vineyard land with single ownership. Less common than you’d think.
Explain the geography and topography of Burgundy.
Eastern/central France near the Swiss border. Just over 66,000 acres.
Rolling hills - best vineyards are on hillsides facing E/SE in Côte d’Or; best vineyard sites in Chablis have S/SW exposure. Thick carpets of vines are parceled into paddock-like plots often enclosed by fieldstone walls.
Explain the Burgundy AOP system.
Based on specific vineyard sites. As area get smaller quantity decreases and quality increases (in theory).
33 Grand Crus (2%)
550-600 Premier Crus (32%)
Village wines (30%)
Regional appellations (56%)
Name the 5 sections of Burgundy north to south.
Chablis Côte d’Or - Côte de Nuits - Côte de Beaune Côte Chalonnaise Mâconnais Beaujolais
Explain the geography, topography, and soil of Chablis.
80 miles north of Côte d’Or and closer to Champagne than the rest of Burgundy. 100 mi SE of Paris.
Soil is Kimmeridgian clay and limestone. White and crusty.
What is the climate of Chablis?
Cool continental climate. Harsh wet, and very cold. Late season frosts mean that picking time is critical.
Explain the Chablis AOP system.
Chablis AOP
Petit Chablis AOP
Chablis Premier Cru AOP
-40 vineyards. not a distinct appellation but rather a quality subdivision of Chablis AOP
Chablis Grand Cru AOP
-7 vineyards. Most have S/SW exposure for max sun.
Describe vinification in Chablis.
Stainless is often used to preserve purity of flavor. No oak used with lower tier wines but often used for upper tier. Malolactic is common.
Minimum Alcohol
Chablis: 10%
Chablis “Premier Cru”: 10.5%
Chablis Grand Cru: 11%
What is a climat?
In Burgundy, designated a place where vine cultivation is attested for a very long time. Precisely delimited plots of land which benefit from specific geological and climate conditions.
Name the 7 Chablis Grand Cru climats.
Les Preuses Bougros Grenouilles Vaudesir Valmur Les Clos Blanchot
Note: Chablis only has 1 grand cru, broken up by these 7 contiguous parcels/climate situated along the hillside
Name 5 of the 17 main climats of Chablis. How many are there in total?
40 in total. 17 main:
13 most used
Mont de Milieu, Monteé de Tonnerre, Fourchaume, Vaillons, Montmains, Côte de Lechet, Beauroy, Vaucoupin, Vosgros, Vau de Vey, Vau Ligneau, Les Beauregards, Les Fourneaux
4 less used
Côte de Vaubarousse, Berdiot, Côte de Jouan, Chaume de Talrat
Describe the flavor profile of Chablis.
Tart to just-ripe tree fruit (green apple, yellow apple, green pear), citrus (lemon)
Sulfuric note (esp in youth): Flint, burnt match
Oxidative notes (if neutral barrel): hazelnut, almond, cheese rind
Lees: Crème fraîche/sour cream
white flowers, apple blossoms, hawthorne, acacia
High minerality, stony, chalk, seaspray, oyster shell, button mushroom
Bone dry to dry, mod to mod-plus body, high acidity, mod alcohol
Name some producers of Chablis.
Alice et Olivier de Moor Raveneau Jean Dauvissat Rene et Vincent Dauvissat Pattes Loup Louis Michel Laurent Tribute Jean Paul and Benoît Droin
Why does Pinot noir do well in Burgundy?
Pinot noir thrives in cool climates because grapes are allowed to ripen slowly. Too hot = unfocused and dull. Pinots from Burgundy are light to medium bodied, very graceful, but intensely flavored.
Explain the geography of the Côte d’Or.
A 30 mi long limestone ridge starting near city of Dijon and ending south at Santenay. villages on the eastern side of the slope - perfectly oriented for morning sun. The next northern region of Burgundy after Chablis.
Two subregions: Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune
Describe viticulture and vinification practices in burgundy.
Cool climate = ripeness is a concern. For the best wines, yields must be kept low. Rain in early fall means vignerons gamble on best time to pick.
Early - avoids rain but grapes are slightly underripe. May produce thin, bland wines. Chaptalization is allowed but the best producers avoid.
Later - longer ripening time with richer wines. Gambling to avoid rain; if not, waterlogged vineyards and rot are concerns.
Explain the soil of Burgundy.
chalk, calcareous clay, marl (limestone-rich clay), and limestone. In many areas visible sea fossils are scattered or are bedrock below thin topsoil. Roots burrow yo to 79 feet between and beneath limestone blocks. Gives the wines vivid minerality.
Dates from mid and lower Jurassic periods 201 to 145 million years ago. Chablis formed during the Kimmeridgian stage.
Beaujolais has granite.
What is the massale selection method?
A vigneron takes cutttings from numerous vines within a vineyard and uses buds from all of them to begin a new vineyard. Selecting individual clones isn’t the focus, rather, replicating the genetic diversity of the other vineyard.
Explain the topography, climate and soil type of the Côte de Nuits.
Hillsides and ridges. Top vineyards often in the middle section of hillsides.
Cool continental climate. Threats of frost, summer hail and excess rain in fall.
Soil: marl and limestone.
