Burgundy Flashcards
Describe the climate in the Côte d’Or.
Continental climate
Cold winters and
Warm summers
What is the name of the hills to the west of the Côte d’Or?
How does this affect the growing environment?
Morvan hills to the west
Protection from winds
What is the average rainfall in Burgundy?
Average rainfall is 700mm
Which two Côte d’Or villages were particularly badly hit by hail between 2012 and 2015
Volnay and Pommard
What are the 3 main weather risks in Burgundy?
What is fourth, more recent, weather risk?
- Spring frosts:
Warmer than usual winters encouraging earlier growth: nor vulnerable - Rain
Early Summer rain disrupts flowering.
Late Summer rain affects harvest
Wet conditions promote Grey Rot - Localised Summer Hail:
Damage exposed grapes
4. Drought stress: Berries to shrivel and vines shut down. Irrigation is not permitted Water stress is a concern in hot vintages. High clay content can help
Describe the topography and soils found in Haute Côtes de Nuit and Haut Côtes de Beaune.
How does this affect the growing environment and wines?
Flat land beyond the top of the slope of the Côte d’Or
Higher altitude Lack of protection from prevailing winds Poorer sunlight interception Poor soils Wines are less concentrated Grapes stuggle to ripen in cooler years
Where on the slopes of the Côte d’Or would you find Grand Cru and Premier Cru vineyards?
How does this affect the growing environment and wines?
Grand Crus are found mid slope
1er crus surround them.
The midslope has poor but adequate shallow soils Good drainage Protection from prevailing winds Good sunlight interception. Frost protection.
Here full ripeness is acheived even in cooler years.
Where on the slopes of the Côte d’Or would you find village level vineyards?
How does this affect the growing environment and wines?
Lowest part of the slope.
Soils are richer
Lesser well drained than the mid slope
Fruit does not reach the same levels of ripeness
Wines of very good quality can still be produced.
Where on the slopes of the Côte d’Or would you find Bourgogne AOC level vineyards?
Flat land at the bottom of the slope with deeper soils.
The D974 generally divides village level above it and generic appellation wines below it.
Where are vineyards in the Côte d’Or generally located, and at what elevations?
Located on a range of hill
Oriented north-south
200 to 400m above sea level
Describe the soils generally in the the Côte d’Or.
How do the Côte de Nuits and the Côte de Beaune differ in soil composition?
Mixture of limestone and clay,
Proportions vary.
CÔTE DE NUITS: More dominated by limestone
CÔTE DE BEAUNE: More clay, deeper soils
Describe how soils vary from top to bottom of the slope in Côte d’Or, and the affect this has on the vines
Thinner souls at top
Too little soil for the vines to survive
Deeper soils at bottom Drainage is poorer More clay based soils Greater fertility More vigorous; shading is more likely Grapes are less likely to ripen adequately.
The best vineyards are found midslope: balance of drainage and water retention
What are the maximum yields for the following white wines in the Côte d’Or?
Regional?
Village?
Grand Cru?
WHITE:
Regional: max. 75hl/ha
Village: max. 45-47hl/ha
GC: max. 40hl/ha
What are the maximum yields for the following red wines in the Côte d’Or?
Regional?
Village?
Grand Cru?
RED
Regional: max. 69hl/ha
Village: max. 40-45hl/ha
Some GC: max. 35hl/ha
What are the positives of massal selection?
Negatives?
+ves:
Increased diversity of planting material in the vinyeard
Owner is using their own material (different from buying from a nursery) which can enhance quality and/or yield
-ves:
Selection and monitoring of vines to ensure the propagation of the best takes time and costs money.
If the parent vine is infected by disease this is likely to be passed onto new vines; it can increase the spread of vine diseases
Are acidification and chaptalisation permitted in Burgundy?
Yes, but rarely used
For Côte d’Or white wines, why might producers choose to press whole bunch?
The process is gentle
Reduces risk of oxidisation
Can lead to wines with more purity and delicacy
Limits extraction of any tannin or aroma from skins
How is damaged / diseased fruit avoided in the final wine in Côte d’Or?
Hand harvesting in the vineyard
Sorting fruit in the winery - increasingly common especially if there has been adverse weather
How might premium white Burgundy and a lower quality white Burgundy differ in their approach to wine clarification?
Clarification for high quality wines using sedimentation
Level of solids remaining depends on the winemaker’s choice of desired flavour in the final wine
Cheaper wines may use quicker methods of clarification
Why might white Burgundy producers use hyperoxidation?
Produce a final wine less prone to oxidation
Response to protective winemaking causing premox
What type of vessels and temperatures are commonly used for fermenting white Burgundy at different price points?
- Stainless steel for inexpensive/ mid priced wines (sometimes concrete)
- Mid range temperatures preserve fruit and avoid banana esters
- More expensive wines are fermented and aged in barrel
- Creamier, rounder style of wine
- Fermentations @ 16 to 20 degrees
How long does premium white Burgundy typically mature for prior to bottling?
What types of vessel are typically used?
Expensive whites age for 8 to 12 months in oak
Standard barrels are 228l pièces
Some use larger 500 to 600l for subtler oak impact
Are MLF and battonage common for white Burgundy?
- MLF is standard, occurring in neutral vessels or in oak
- Some producers may block a portion of wine for a fresher style.
- Batonnage; common once or several times to reduce reductive flavours and add creamy texture
What step may be taken prior to fermentation of Pinot Noir when using crushed fruit?
Explain this process.
Cold soak: extract colour and flavour through maceration prior to fermentation
Juice and skins are chilled to 4 to 10 degrees - - reduce oxidation
- reduce microbial spoilage
- limit risk of spontaneous fermentation
Typically 3 to 7 days with punching down and or pumping
What are the positives and negatives of whole bunch fermentation?
\+ves: Aerates the must Adds perfume and freshness Adds fine tannin to the wine -ves: If stems are unripe they can add astringent green flavours and tannins
Briefly summarise fermentation with a mix of crushed fruit and whole bunches.
Whole bunches mixed with crushed grapes
No CO2 but bunches blanket crushed grapes
Keeps out oxygen so intracellular fermentation takes place.
Technique thought to give wine silkier texture and brighter fresher fruit character.