Burgundy Flashcards
Expression for individually named plots in Burgundy
Climats
River which goes through Chablis
Serein
Classic expression of Chablis
Dry, medium body
Medium alcohol
Zesty, green apple, lemon
no or minimum oak (some oak in Premier and Grand cru)
Chablis climate
Continental - cold winters, warm summers
(uncertainty about ripening and vintage variation)
Average rainfall 670mm (spread through the year)
(high threat of fungal diseases)
Vulnerable to spring frost and hail storms
Soil: limestone and clay
- fossilized seashells - Kimmeridgian soil
Soil type in Chablis
Kimmeridgian soil
- high proportion of fossilized seashells
Limestone and clay
Ways to manage frost risk in Chablis
Smudge pots
- air polution, staff required
Sprinklers ‘aspersion’
- instalation and maintenance costs
- For well founded wineries or valuable lands
- pruning late - delays bud burst
Vineyard management in Chablis
41B rootstock (vinifera x berlandieri) widely used
- tolerant to limestone with high pH
420A rootstock (riparia x berlandieri)
- low vigour, high tolerance to high pH
double Guyot replacement cane is typical
- one cane fails, other one survives frost
higher yields than Cote d’Or
- but high vintage variation due to frost and hail
Mostly machine harvested
- Grand cru usually by hand (steep vineyards)
Chablis hierarchy
Petit Chablis
Chablis
Chablis Premier Cru
Chablis Grand Cru
Petit Chablis
typically higher, cooler sites
predominantly Portlandian soils (hard limestone with less clay)
Portlandian soil
hard limestone with less clay
typical soil for Petit Chablis
Chablis
Kimmeridgian soil and mixed aspects
- usually flat or gentle slopes
- many north facing slopes
Light bodied, high acidity, light to med intensity, apple and lemon fruit
Chablis Premier Cru
40 named vineyards
Predominantly on south and south-east facing slopes with Kimmeridgian soil
Some vineyards have named plots (lieux-dits)
- can be labelled with specific site name
(Chablis 1er Cru Troesmes)
- or larger climat
(Chablis 1er Cru Beauroy)
Named plot within vineyard
lieu-dit
Difference between climat and lieu-dit
Climat
- Named vineyard fixed in AOC legislation
Lieu-dit
- Named piece of land in the centralised land register
- usually within climats
Chablis Grand Cru
One Grand Cru with 7 named vineyards
(Les Clos, Vaudésir)
- immediately next to village Chablis
- facing south-west on the right bank of Serein
- Kimmeridgian soil (+crumbly marl and high clay)
- aspect promotes ripening - greater weight and concentration
- mid slope
1% of production
How many Grand Crus does Chablis have
One
How many named Grand Cru Vineyards (climats) does Chablis have
Seven
Name Chablis Grand Cru climats
To know
- Les Clos
- Vaudésir
Rest:
- Blanchot
- Bougros
- Grenouilles
- Preuses
- Valmur
Why are Premier and Grand cru vineyards in Chablis on south facing mid slopes?
Better drainage Protection from frost Better light interception - riper fruit Sheltered from northern winds
Chablis winemaking
Chaptalization allowed (within limits) quite regularly used
Ferment in stainless with storage in stainless or concrete for few months
Malo is common (soften acidity)
Few months on lees to enhance texture
Oak is usually not desirable (some Grand and Premier Cru is fermented/aged in wood)
Wine law and regulations - Chablis
Only Chardonnay allowed
max yield
- Petit Chablis and Chablis 60 hl/ha
- Chablis Premier Cru 58 hl/ha
- Chablis Grand Cru 54 hl/ha
Wine business in Chablis
1/3 of production made by La Chablisienne
Many negociants also own their own vineyards
Several producer associations
- Le Syndicat de Defense de l’Appellation de Chablis
- L’Union des Grand Crus de Chablis
In general prices are lower than Cote d’Or
2/3 are exported - UK mainly, USA, Japan, Sweden, Canada
Producers: Francois Raveneau, Vincent Dauvissat, William Fevre, Jean-Marc Brocard
Cooperative based in Chablis
La Chablisienne
Producers in Chablis
Francois Raveneau
Vincent Dauvissat
William Fevre
Jean-Marc Brocard
Burgundy climate
Continental
- short warm summers, cold winters
- moderated by protection from Morvan Hills (west)
Rainfall around 700mm (dry autumn)
(Maconnais slightly drier and hotter)
Marked vintage variation
Hazards:
- Frost (north) - early budding Chard and Pinot
- Hail (netting is permitted, seeding clouds with silver iode to induce precipation further from vineyards)
- Untimely rain fall
- Drought (irrigation is not permitted)
- Erosion
Burgundy topography
Aspect and elevation
- important factor determining style and quality
Range of hills oriented north-south 200-400m
Best sited are mid slope
- well drained, shallow soil
- optimal sunshine
- frost protection
Top of the hills
- poor, thin soils
- exposed to wind
Botton of the slope
- deeper soils (more vigour, less ripeness)
- vulnerable to frost
Cooler sites planted with Aligote or producing Cremant de Bourgogne
Soils in Burgundy
Various types of limestone and clay
Cote de Nuits - dominated by limestone
Cote de Beaune - more clay and deeper soils
Chalonnaise and Maconnais - mixed limestone and clay
Depth of soil is varying significantly due to erosion
Chardonnay
Early budding (spring frost) Early ripening
Relatively high yields without quality loss
- canopy management to promote quality in Burgundy
Prone to grey rot, powedery mildew, millerandage and grapevine yellows
Can be grown on wide range of soils and climates
- top quality grown on limestone/clay
Cool climate (Chablis):
Apple, pear, lemon, lime, wet stone
Light to med body, high acidity
Moderate climate (Cote d'Or) Ripe citrus, melon, stone fruit, med (med+) body, med+ (high) acidity